The shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Muwada Nkunyingi,has criticized the government for spending UGX 44 billion annually on renting diplomatic residences, urging a shift towards property acquisition to reduce the financial strain on taxpayers.

He raised the concern while presenting the opposition’s 2025/26 Alternative Ministerial Policy Statement for the Foreign Affairs Sector.

He called on the government to prioritize purchasing official residences and chanceries to curb excessive expenditure on rent.

“There is a clear lack of commitment to acquiring and maintaining properties for Uganda’s foreign missions. Out of the 38 missions, only 10 own both a chancery and an official residence, while some properties are in dire condition,” Nkunyingi stated.

He cited the example of Uganda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimisha Madhvani, who is currently residing in a hotel because her official residence has deteriorated to an uninhabitable state.

The Kyadondo East legislator urged the government to either secure properties for the 16 missions that currently lack them or conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine the most practical solution. He stressed that investing in property ownership would significantly reduce long-term expenses.

“As the opposition, we believe that redirecting rental expenses toward property acquisition is a more sustainable approach. A structured, multi-year financing plan—such as mortgage arrangements—would allow Uganda to own diplomatic properties while reducing financial pressure on taxpayers,” he proposed.

Nkunyingi called on Parliament to approve mechanisms that would enable Uganda’s missions abroad to acquire properties through structured financing, ensuring a long-term resolution to the issue.