Uganda is sending a high-level delegation to Kenya to seek compensation following a fire that severely damaged Uganda House in central Nairobi during anti-government protests in June 2024.
The team, led by Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem, is expected to engage the Kenyan government in diplomatic talks.
The six-storey Uganda House, located in the heart of the capital, was set to reopen after renovations when it caught fire amid protests against Kenya’s controversial Finance Bill.
The building, which housed diplomatic offices and served as a symbol of Uganda-Kenya relations, sustained extensive damage.
No injuries or fatalities were reported, and consular staff were not present at the time of the fire, according to Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“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 life,” said Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Vincent Waiswa in a statement released on 26 June.
The Ugandan government has allocated Ksh155 million (UGX 4.4 billion) for restoration, but a funding gap of Ksh33.5 million remains.
Uganda’s Parliament has since called on the executive to pursue formal compensation from Kenya.
“The government of Uganda should pursue compensation from the government of Kenya for the destruction of Uganda House, Nairobi, during the riots,” said Budget Committee deputy chairperson Achia Remigio while presenting the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper.
Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to receive the Ugandan delegation later this month, with both sides aiming to resolve the matter diplomatically and reinforce bilateral ties.
