President Ruto Appoints Ababu Namwamba as Kenya's New High Commissioner to Uganda

The announcement, made by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on Wednesday, takes immediate effect. It addresses vacancies created by the completion of terms for several serving ambassadors.

In the reshuffle, Namwamba moves from his role as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi—where he was appointed in January 2025—to lead diplomatic relations in Kampala. He replaces Ambassador Joash Maangi, who has been redeployed to Brussels as Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union.

"The changes are necessitated by vacancies arising from the completion of the terms of service of serving Ambassadors," Koskei stated in the official release.

Namwamba's diplomatic posting marks a return to public service following his removal from the Cabinet as Sports CS during a major reshuffle last year. Before his brief stint at UNEP, he was a prominent Budalangi legislator and vocal supporter of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

As High Commissioner to Uganda, Namwamba will oversee bilateral ties between the two East African neighbors, including trade, security cooperation, and support for the Kenyan diaspora in Uganda. Kenya and Uganda share deep economic and cultural links, with ongoing collaborations in infrastructure, energy, and regional integration under the East African Community.

The move comes amid broader diplomatic adjustments by the Ruto administration to strengthen Kenya's global representation. No immediate reactions from Namwamba or opposition figures were reported in the announcement.

This reassignment positions Namwamba in one of Kenya's key neighboring missions, highlighting the administration's strategy to deploy experienced political figures to critical diplomatic roles. The changes are part of routine rotations in the foreign service to ensure fresh leadership at various posts.