Ambassador Richard Tumusiime Kabonero, Uganda’s new High Commissioner to neighboring Tanzania this morning presented copies of his Letters of Credentials to Hon. Dr. Augustine Mahiga, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania.
Kabonero was redeployed to the southern neighbor, after serving in Rwanda for 10 years. He left Kigali in May this year.
The Ambassador, who presented his documents at the Office of the Kagera Regional Commissioner in Bukoba town, set a historical precedence by being the first envoy to present letter Letters of Credentials at the Regional Capital.
This flexibility was hailed as a demonstration of the brotherly relationships that exist between Uganda and Tanzania.
Dr Mahiga welcomed Kabonero to Tanzania and to the Kagera Regional Capital, Bukoba and wished him a successful tour of diplomatic duty and stay in the country.
On his part, Kabonero expressed sincere appreciation for the flexibility allowed to him by the exterior Minister and the Tanzanian Government.
The envoy said he looked forward to a constructive engagement with the Minister and the entire Government of Tanzania in further strengthening and deepening the excellent bilateral relations that exists between the two countries.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Kagera Regional Commissioner General (Rtd) Salima Kijuu, Tanzania’ s High Commissioner to Uganda Her Excellency Amb. Grace Ngovano, Amb. Dr. Aziz P. Mlima, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, Oscar J. Edule, Counsellor at Uganda High Commission Dar es Salaam and senior government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East Cooperation and Kagera Regional Administration of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Kabonero, who started work in 1988 as a Customs officer in the revenue authority, would later be appointed Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kampala.
In 1990, he was sent to Nairobi, Kenya as the 3rd Secretary at the Uganda Mission.
President Museveni would later deploy Kabonero in United States as First Secretary, Economic, Congressional and Press Affairs, Embassy of Uganda, Washington D.C.
It’s through these appointments that Kabonero honed his diplomatic acumen.
Kabonero goes to Tanzania at a time when relations with Uganda are at their best with the two countries cooperating on the construction of the oil pipeline from Hoima to Tanga Port.
Expediting the construction works and obtaining good deals for Uganda will be one of his biggest tasks.
He will also have to revamp the run-down chancery and residence that have spent five years without an Ambassador.
Born in Ntungamo district, Kabonero is a brother of Kampala businessman Bob Kabonero of Kampala Casino and Susan Muhwezi, the presidential advisor on AGOA and wife of former Minister and spy chief, Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi.