By Jimmy Muhummuza
Parliament
Uganda’s Ambassador in Kigali is facing eviction from his official residence after the landlord increased rental fees from USD 63,600 to USD 96,000 which the government of Uganda has failed to provide.
This has been disclosed by Uganda’s Ambassador to Kigali Gen Robert Rusoke while facing the parliamentary committee of foreign affairs to present the Budget framework paper for FY 2023/2024.
Officials of Uganda High Commission Kigali appeared before the parliamentary committee of foreign affairs to defend their budget framework paper for the financial year 2023/2024 totaling Shs3.36bn Shillings. Gen. Robert Rusoke Uganda’s High Commissioner in Kigali appealed to the committee to consider more funding. for the commission to rejuvenate trade that grossly declined following the prolonged border closure between Uganda and Rwanda.
MPs were shocked to learn that Uganda’s ambassador is facing eviction from his official residence in Kigali due to high rental Costs. This was after the landlord increased rent dues from USD 63,600 to USD 96,000 with effect from January 2022. Robert Tugume the accounting officer of the embassy says their efforts to get supplementary funding have been frustrated by the ministry of finance.
They asked the committee to support the high commission to construct a Chancery building in Kigali to save the taxpayer from the burden of high rental costs.
However, MPs questioned the high increase in rental costs questioning whether the High Commission has a tenancy agreement with the landlord that can protect Uganda from exorbitant rent increases. MPs tasked the embassy to sign a tenancy agreement going forward to save the country from being embarrassed
Some committee members questioned why Uganda High Commission in Kigali should continue getting funding when it has abandoned diplomatic relations with an individual like Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba who has been working tirelessly to restore bilateral ties.
