KAMPALA, UGANDA — Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed seasoned diplomat and journalist Adonia Ayebare as the country’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ayebare, who has represented Uganda at the United Nations for years, steps into the role with a deep well of regional and international diplomatic experience.
Ayebare publicly accepted the appointment on social media, expressing his gratitude to President Museveni.
“I wish to express my deepest gratitude for the confidence and trust you have placed in me by appointing me Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uganda,” Ayebare stated. “I remain fully committed to advancing Uganda’s foreign policy objectives, safeguarding our national interests, and strengthening our diplomatic relations across the region and globally. I pledge to serve with loyalty, diligence, and dedication in pursuit of Uganda’s peace, prosperity, and strategic aspirations.”
The appointment was quickly met with praise from regional counterparts. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, congratulated Ayebare on his new role, stating, “Congratulations, my brother @adoniaayebare, for your well-deserved appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda! I wish you all the best in your new assignment and I have no doubt that our collaboration will be excellent.”
A Career Rooted in Diplomacy and Journalism
Born on October 18, 1966, Ayebare brings an extensive academic and professional background to Uganda’s top diplomatic post. Prior to this appointment, he served as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations starting in March 2017. He also served as the Senior Adviser on Peace and Security at the African Union’s Permanent Observer Mission to the UN in New York from 2013 to 2017.
Ayebare’s career actually began in media. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Makerere University in 1993, he worked as a staff reporter for the East African Business Week in Kampala and later served as an information officer for the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN).
His transition into diplomacy began in 2001 when he was named Uganda’s Principal Adviser and Special Envoy to the Burundi peace process. From there, he built a robust resume in international relations:
- 2002–2005: Served as Uganda’s Ambassador and Head of Mission to Rwanda and Burundi.
- 2005–2008 & 2010–2012: Held the position of Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d’affaires at Uganda’s UN mission in New York.
- 2009–2011: Acted as Director of the Africa Program at the International Peace Institute, a New York-based think tank.
Ayebare is also highly credentialed academically. In addition to his degree from Makerere University, he holds two Master of Arts degrees—one from Long Island University and another from Tufts University’s prestigious Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He also holds two doctoral degrees from Indiana University and Rutgers University.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayebare is expected to leverage his deep ties at the United Nations and his historic relationships with neighboring East African nations to navigate Uganda’s complex regional and global interests.
