President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday evening appointed seasoned diplomat Adonia Ayebare as Uganda’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Jeje Odongo in the Cabinet reshuffle the 2026–2031 term.
Ayebare, widely regarded as one of Uganda’s most experienced diplomats on multilateral affairs, has served as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York since 2017, where he has been central to the country’s global diplomatic engagements.
His appointment has been described as Kampala’s intention to strengthen its international diplomacy at a time Uganda continues to play prominent roles in regional peace initiatives, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Group of 77 and China (G77), and African Union processes.
Born in 1966, Ayebare trained initially as a journalist before transitioning into diplomacy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University, two Master’s degrees from Long Island University and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, as well as a certificate in International Security from Harvard Kennedy School. He also earned doctoral degrees from Indiana University and Rutgers University.
Ayebare began his career in journalism, working with East African Business Week and the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) before joining Uganda’s diplomatic service in the early 2000s.
Over the years, he built a reputation as a conflict prevention and mediation expert, particularly in the Great Lakes region. He worked extensively on peace processes in Burundi, Somalia and Sudan for more than a decade.
Between 2002 and 2006, Ayebare served as Uganda’s ambassador to both Rwanda and Burundi, before later becoming Uganda’s principal adviser and special envoy to the Burundi peace process.
During Uganda’s chairmanship of the Burundi peace initiative, he worked closely with regional mediators from South Africa and Tanzania, alongside former Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and his predecessors.
His role in Burundi’s peace process has continued to earn regional recognition.
Following his appointment, Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye praised Ayebare as a “well known figure” to the people of Burundi, saying his “vital contribution” to the country’s peace process “remains etched in our memories.”
Between 2019 and 2020, Ayebare also played a visible diplomatic role in efforts to normalise strained relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
In December 2019, he was dispatched by President Yoweri Museveni as a special envoy to Kigali, where he personally delivered a message to President Paul Kagame aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.
The meeting at Urugwiro Village was described as “positive,” with both sides showing cautious progress toward restoring bilateral relations.
At the United Nations, Ayebare became one of Uganda’s key voices on peace, development and South-South cooperation.
He chaired high-level UN processes and served as President of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation, a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly.
He also coordinated the African Group’s push for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on global issues affecting the continent.
Ayebare also played a significant role in preparations for Uganda’s hosting and chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement summit and the Group of 77 and China meetings in Kampala.
He served as deputy chairperson of the national organizing committee for the summits, which elevated Uganda’s diplomatic visibility globally.
Before his latest appointment, President Museveni had already brought Ayebare closer to Cabinet decision-making by appointing him an ex-officio Cabinet member earlier in 2025, a move analysts viewed as preparation for a bigger foreign policy role.
Ayebare’s long experience at the UN, African Union and regional peace tables could shape Uganda’s foreign policy toward stronger multilateral engagement, especially on regional security, trade diplomacy and South-South cooperation.