President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has received credentials from three new ambassadors-designate, reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to expand bilateral ties with Ireland, France, and Thailand.
The credentialing ceremony, held at State House Entebbe, was attended by senior government officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odong Abubakhar.
The new envoys are Margaret Gaynor (Ireland), Virginie Leroy (France), and Morakot Janemathukorn (Thailand). Their engagements with the President centered on boosting cooperation in education, trade, infrastructure, security, and socio-economic transformation.
In his meeting with Ambassador Gaynor, President Museveni emphasized women’s empowerment and girl-child education as crucial to Uganda’s development journey. “FGM is bad biology, but it is fading away. We are expanding girl-child education and women empowerment programmes. Previously, women were excluded and reduced to dependents. When the husband died, families would rely on the eldest son. This must stop,” he noted.
He further reiterated Uganda’s four-pronged strategy for socio-economic growth, focusing on commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT.
Ambassador Gaynor, who succeeds Kevin Colgan, previously served as Deputy Head of Mission at Ireland’s Embassy in Tanzania. She was accompanied by her spouse Jean-Louis Brudey and a delegation of senior diplomats. Ireland has maintained over three decades of diplomatic relations with Uganda, with strong support for the education sector.
The President also welcomed France’s Virginie Leroy, who returns to Uganda after serving in the country between 2014 and 2019. Museveni expressed gratitude for France’s role in infrastructure projects and military training, particularly in mountain warfare for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). “I not only want infrastructure, but also support in wealth creation,” the President emphasized.
Ambassador Leroy, accompanied by a team including the Deputy Head of Mission and officials from the French Development Agency (AFD), said she was delighted to reconnect with Uganda and to strengthen cooperation further.
In discussions with Thailand’s Ambassador-designate, Morakot Janemathukorn, Museveni highlighted opportunities to deepen trade, investment, and cultural exchange between the two nations. The Thai delegation included First Secretary Thitiwoot Techapun and Uganda’s Honorary Consul Barbra Mulwana.
The presentation of credentials by the three ambassadors marks a renewed phase in Uganda’s foreign relations, reflecting the country’s determination to broaden partnerships that align with its long-term development agenda.
