A visit with Robie Kakonge Uganda’s newly appointed Amb to Washington DC

By Edriss Kironde

First and foremost, I would like to use this opportunity to thank the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni for the appointment of the new Ugandan Ambassador to the United States, Robie Kakonge, who by all measures is well deserving.

The Ambassadorial docket in Washington DC, by far, comes with a lot of responsibilities beyond the United States.

The Ugandan Ambassador in the USA, is also in charge of 12 other countries plus two global financial institutes, vis-a-vis. The IMF and World Bank.

Uganda Embassy in Washington D.C is mandated to promote and protect Uganda’s national interests in the United States of America and other countries of accreditation, namely; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

In addition, the Embassy coordinates programs for the development of Uganda with the global financial institutions headquartered in Washington DC, namely; the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

On July 22, 2022, I was honored to seat down with Amb Robie Kakonge and we discussed a range of issues pertinent to the Ugandan Diaspora, Investments, scholarships, markets for Uganda products, air transport and modern technologies for a better Uganda.

Amb Kakonge and Kironde at Kampala Serena Hotel

I was honored with a tour guide of the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) at Nakawa, by none other than Amb Kakonge.

UICT is committed to excellence in teaching, learning, research, engagement and support, and delivering quality in everything we do, supported through the provision of flexible pathways through education.

I interacted with a few IT individuals at the institute and was impressed by quite a number of things in place and what was to come.

The writer is a Ugandan based in San Francisco, USA