A high-level Ugandan government delegation led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem is scheduled to visit Nairobi this month for diplomatic talks with President William Ruto’s administration, focusing on compensation following the destruction of Uganda House in June 2024.
The iconic six-storey building, located in central Nairobi, was extensively damaged during violent protests against Kenya’s 2024 Finance Bill on June 25, 2024.
The fire that gutted the structure, which housed Uganda’s diplomatic offices and commercial tenants, has since become a point of concern for Ugandan authorities.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the Ugandan delegation will push for a resolution on the compensation issue and seek to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations in the wake of the incident.
The diplomatic visit follows calls by Uganda’s Parliament to hold Kenya accountable for the destruction.
While presenting the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper, Budget Committee Deputy Chairperson Achia Remigio, MP for Pian County, urged the government to take action.
“The Committee proposed that the Government of Uganda should pursue compensation from the government of Kenya for the destruction of Uganda House, Nairobi, during the riots,” Achia told Parliament.
In anticipation of possible delays, the Ugandan government has already allocated sh155 million (UGX 4.4 billion) toward restoring the building in two phases.
However, a shortfall of sh33.5 million (UGX 949 million) remains, intensifying the need for a formal compensation agreement with Kenya.
Officials from Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs are expected to host the Ugandan team, with discussions aimed at resolving the issue diplomatically and reinforcing cooperation between the neighboring East African states.
In a statement released on June 26, 2024, Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Vincent Waiswa confirmed that no serious injuries were reported during the incident.
At the time of the fire, the upper floors of the building were unoccupied due to ongoing renovations, and only commercial tenants were present on the ground floor.
“We support peaceful demonstrations as a democratic right, but we condemn in the strongest terms violence that leads to destruction of property and loss of lives,” Waiswa said.
“While there is extensive damage to the property, we are grateful that there are no reported fatalities or serious injuries that have been identified so far.”
The Uganda House, recently renovated and scheduled for reopening on June 28, 2024, now stands as a symbol of both the fragility and resilience of diplomatic relations in the region.
Would you like this story formatted for a news bulletin or government report summary?
MP Were Died Of Excessive Bleeding, Was Shot Five Times, Autopsy Shows
