The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Ramathan Ggoobi, has challenged ambassadors and heads of missions abroad to turn diplomatic posts into engines of economic growth by attracting investments, boosting exports and promoting tourism.
Speaking at a retreat of the Regional Economic Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, Ggoobi said Uganda’s economic diplomacy must move beyond traditional diplomatic engagements and focus on measurable economic returns.
The retreat was held under the theme, “Setting the National Context: ECD in Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Agenda.”
“Economic diplomacy is no longer a polite supplement to political duties; it is the frontline of Uganda’s economic transformation,” Ggoobi said.
He urged diplomats to strengthen their capacity in trade analysis, investment mobilisation and investor aftercare, arguing that Uganda’s foreign missions now have a direct role in driving the country’s economic ambitions.
Ggoobi said the performance of missions abroad should be assessed based on tangible outcomes, including the value of investments secured, export growth, tourism numbers and foreign exchange earnings generated.
He added that government funding for foreign missions would increasingly be linked to measurable performance.
“Budget prioritisation will directly follow verifiable performance,” he said.
The PSST challenged diplomats to focus on delivering economic results rather than concentrating mainly on ceremonial activities and diaspora engagements.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vincent Bagiire welcomed the growing collaboration between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in advancing Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy agenda.
Bagiire said the ministry would continue working with Uganda’s missions abroad to mobilise investment, expand trade and support the government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy aimed at transforming Uganda into a $500 billion economy.
