Kevin Colgan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda, has expressed concerns regarding the recent arrests, detentions, and alleged torture of Ugandan citizens who protested against government corruption.
These concerns were raised during bilateral talks between Ambassador Colgan and Uganda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeje Odongo Abubakhar, held at the Ministry's headquarters in Kampala.
The discussions highlighted the longstanding and cordial relations between the two nations while addressing critical issues of mutual concern.
In response to the Ambassador's concerns, Minister Odongo acknowledged the legitimacy of the public's grievances, attributing the unrest to the corruption of some senior government officials.
He emphasized that while the government had taken action against these officials, it had also received intelligence suggesting foreign involvement in the riots, which justified the use of force.
He confirmed that most of the arrested protesters had been brought to court and subsequently released.
Odongo welcomed Ambassador Colgan and reaffirmed Uganda's commitment to strengthening the bilateral ties that have been nurtured over many years.
He highlighted the mutual respect and cooperation that define the relationship between Uganda and Ireland and expressed eagerness to explore new avenues for collaboration in areas of shared interest.
Ambassador Colgan conveyed greetings from the people of Ireland and announced the relocation of the Irish Embassy in Kampala to a new site at the former Norwegian Embassy in Nakasero.
He noted that the Embassy would continue to handle bilateral interests between Uganda and Norway from this new location, with formal communication to be provided to the Ministry for record purposes.
Colgan also invited Minister Odongo to attend the Embassy's upcoming 30th-anniversary celebrations on October 24, 2024, which will include visits to Irish-funded projects in Karamoja and Kiboga districts.
Additionally, Minister Odongo revealed that Uganda had reached an agreement with the European Union's representative to host a summit in Kampala aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He emphasized that the solution to the conflict between M23 rebels and other forces in the DRC lies in political dialogue, not armed rebellion.
He referenced recent talks between Kigali and Kinshasa in Luanda, Angola, on July 30, 2024, which underscored the importance of political dialogue to end the violence in the North Kivu region of Eastern DRC.
