Kampala Uganda – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uganda has issued a statement refuting allegations that Ugandan diplomats were expelled from the United Kingdom due to human trafficking claims.
The Ministry’s response comes after a program aired on NBS Television claimed that Ugandan diplomats were expelled from the UK for human trafficking.
In a statement released today by the Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Bagiire Vincent Waiswa dismissed the allegations saying, “We would like to first and foremost clarify that no Ugandan diplomat has been expelled from the United Kingdom.”
Waiswa emphasized that human trafficking is a serious issue, defined as the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labour or sexual exploitation.”
Instead, Waiswa clarified that the diplomats in question had completed their 3- to 4-year tour of duty and were recalled to headquarters for further instructions, which is standard practice in diplomatic service.
He challenged the authors for misinformation to provide evidence of the diplomats being declared persona non grata, which is the only circumstance under which a diplomat can be considered expelled.
“Under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the receiving state may at any time without having to explain its decision declare any member of a diplomatic staff of a sending state persona non grata.” Said the P/S of Foreign Affairs
“It is only under that provision that a diplomat is deemed unwelcome in the receiving state that we can use the term expelled.” He further stated
