President Yoweri Museveni has launched a high-level investigation into the performance of Uganda’s long-standing foreign missions, focusing on long-serving diplomats during whose tenure economic and political influence in Europe and other areas has declined.
At the center of the probe is Mirjam Blaak-Sow, Uganda’s Head of Mission to the European Union and the Benelux countries.
According to our State House sources, Blaak has maintained a presence in Uganda’s diplomatic circles for the past 40 years, a tenure that spans the entire duration of the NRM’s time in government.
Our highly placed sources indicate the President is frustrated by the stark contrast between EU investment opportunities flowing into Uganda versus its East African neighbors.
For instance, while Kenya successfully secured approximately $3.5 billion in EU Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) for the 2024–2025 period, and Rwanda drew in $1.8 billion, Uganda lagged significantly behind with only $1.2 billion.
The disparity is blamed on a lack of aggressive trade diplomacy.
“Kenya and Rwanda have pivoted toward tech, green energy, and manufacturing sectors, whereas Uganda’s mission in Brussels is accused of remaining reactive and failing to progress stalled interests in the country’s lucrative oil and gas sector,” another high ranking official in Foreign Ministry said.
The investigation highlights alleged “diplomatic surrender” regarding the Ugandan opposition’s influence abroad.
Under Ambassador Blaak’s tenure, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has seen his profile rise within European institutions.
“In February 2026, the European Parliament adopted a scathing resolution condemning the NRM government’s conduct during the recent election cycle,” a source said.
This diplomatic victory for the opposition is viewed by Kampala as a major failure of the Brussels mission to manage the national narrative.
“Changes in guard in Uganda’s key diplomatic missions abroad are currently in the offing,” the source said.
Contacted for a comment, the Presidential Press Secretary Sandor Walusimbi couldn’t be reached for a comment.
Efforts to get a comment from Foreign Ministry were unsuccessful by the time of filing this report, as the Spokesperson and Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire was unavailable.
