Catherine Lamwaka, Chairperson Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking over Shs38.9Bn to relocate Uganda’s Mission in Cairo to a new designated premise following administrative changes within the Egyptian Government that is seeking to establish a new administrative city by 2028.
The revelation was made by Catherine Lamwaka, Chairperson Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs while presenting a report on the 2025/26 Ministerial Policy Statement for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Missions Abroad.
Parliament was informed that Egypt is developing a New Administrative Vapital (NAC), commonly known as New Cairo and in compliance with a directive from the Egyptian President, all Government offices and diplomatic missions have already moved to the NAC and Uganda’s Mission in Cairo is required to relocate by the end of 2028.
“The estimated cost of constructing a chancery and official residence in the NAC as per the draft bill of quantities obtained by the Mission is US$10,624,660 (approximately UGX38.9Bn), excluding the cost of land. The Committee was informed that the price of land in the NAC is very high and increases exponentially every passing year. The Mission requires one acre of land for the project, currently valued at UGX 8.784Bn,” said Lamwaka.
She also informed Parliament that during its engagement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Committee was told that the development budget for Missions abroad is already committed to the ongoing projects. In the interim, the Ministry is considering renting premises for both the chancery and the official residence in the NAC until funding for construction becomes available.
“Given the escalating costs of land in the NAC, it is crucial that the Mission be urgently allocated funds to secure the required land before prices rise further. Delayed land acquisition will result in significantly higher costs in the future. The Committee recommends that an additional UGX 8,784 billion be allocated in FY 2025/26 to facilitate the purchase of land for the chancery and official residence. Furthermore, the Committee urges the Government to prioritize funding for the construction of the chancery and official residence in Cairo in the FY 2026/27 budget cycle,” explained Lamwaka.
