| First published: 20080805 8:41:31 AM EST
Ultimate Media
The State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem has called upon government to urgently increase the budget for all missions abroad, which are reportedly in a poor state.
Oryem made the call while appearing before the parliamentary committee on Foreign Affairs to defend his ministry�s ministerial statement.
Oryem�s statement follow a report presented to the ministry by the committee on the state of the missions abroad, which MPs visited. The committee said that many of the buildings that host Ugandan embassies abroad are in poor condition, with some having been condemned by the city councils in their respective cities.
The minister however told MPs that government has started renovating the missions and the embassies in Paris, London and Brussels are undergoing face lifts to make them look better.
Oryem says that government is planning to seek permission from authorities in Brussels to demolish the mission building, which had been condemned, and instead erect a new building.
He says that the delay in renovating the missions abroad has been due to reluctance by the Ministry of Finance to disburse funds early enough.
Oryem called upon Finance ministry to raise the budget of the missions so that they are able to maintain and efficiently run the missions. He also said that the government needs to look for supplementary funds to purchase other properties abroad that can be used to generate income for government.
Shadow minister for foreign affairs, Reagan Okumu, urged government to refrain form neglecting the missions abroad since they represent the interests of Uganda to the international communities. |
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