The Government of Uganda is set to inject an additional Shs 4.5 billion into the renovation of Uganda House, a six-storey commercial property in Nairobi severely damaged during anti-tax protests in June 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This brings the total cost of the renovation project to nearly Shs 30 billion, sparking concerns from lawmakers and oversight bodies over accountability and the country\u2019s diplomatic posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While appearing before the Parliament\u2019s Public Accounts Committee \u2013 Central Government (PAC-Central) on May 21, Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Vincent Bagiire confirmed that efforts to seek compensation from both the Kenyan government and the contractor\u2019s insurer had yielded no results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe reached out to the Kenyan authorities and received only letters of regret from President Ruto and Prime Minister Mudavadi. “The contractor\u2019s insurer denied liability, and the Solicitor General supported that position,\u201d Bagiire stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Committee members expressed dismay at the government\u2019s response and demanded a comprehensive financial audit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need full documentation: when the building was damaged, what has been paid so far, and the current status of the contract,\u201d said Hon. Gorreth Namugga, PAC Deputy Chairperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hon. Silas Aogon (Kumi Municipality) questioned why Uganda had not pursued legal recourse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe DRC took us to court, and we\u2019re now paying over a trillion shillings. Why haven\u2019t we taken Kenya to court? We keep losing taxpayers\u2019 money while they send us letters of regret.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Committee Chair Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi added that Uganda\u2019s diplomatic reputation may be contributing to such repeated incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy are our missions the ones attacked? What image do we project in the region?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uganda House, located at 15 Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi\u2019s CBD, was inaugurated in 1965 and has long served as both a commercial center and diplomatic mission, housing consular offices and private tenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2020, the building will need significant upgrades. A renovation project valued at over Shs 70 billion was launched in 2022, aimed at restoring its status as a premier regional facility. Work included structural upgrades, modernized interiors, and new utilities. The building was slated to reopen on June 28, 2024, days before it was torched by rioters during protests against a controversial finance bill in Kenya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The six-floor building was ready to reopen in just three days. “The first floor, occupied by tenants, suffered the most damage,\u201d Bagiire noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On June 25, 2024, violent protests erupted across Nairobi. Rioters vandalized and set fire to Uganda House, leaving it severely damaged. Eyewitnesses reported a lack of timely fire response, with one individual noting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are only three water bowsers in Nairobi. We are losing Uganda House. It is hurting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the Nairobi Fire Department eventually contained the blaze, the destruction\u2014especially on the lower floors\u2014was substantial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bagiire later thanked Kenyan authorities but acknowledged the deep disappointment surrounding the incident:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe commend the Nairobi Fire Department, but we regret the incident and the massive damage inflicted on the property.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike the Kenyan response that was limited to letters of regret, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) formally acknowledged damage to Uganda\u2019s embassy in Kinshasa and requested a damage report. Uganda has since submitted the necessary documentation and is awaiting formal feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Col. Victor Nekesa (UPDF representative) called for a stronger diplomatic posture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ministry must work on reshaping Uganda\u2019s regional image and improve its communication. Have suspects in Nairobi or Kinshasa even been arrested?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PAC also questioned the absence of a comprehensive diaspora engagement strategy, which members argued could bolster public diplomacy and help protect foreign missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need a stronger framework for engaging the diaspora and ensuring the physical and diplomatic security of our embassies,\u201d Namugga said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Uganda commits another Shs 4.5 billion to repair a symbol of its regional presence, Parliament is demanding greater transparency, diplomatic assertiveness, and policy reform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Uganda Housefire has exposed not only structural vulnerabilities but also gaps in Uganda\u2019s foreign mission strategy, prompting wider questions about accountability, sovereignty, and regional influence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Government of Uganda is set to inject an additional Shs 4.5 billion into the renovation of Uganda House, a six-storey commercial property in Nairobi severely damaged during anti-tax protests in June 2024. This brings the total cost of the renovation project to nearly Shs 30 billion, sparking concerns from lawmakers and oversight bodies over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-international-relations"],"yoast_head":"\n