Rubanda West MP Bruce Balaba has called on the Foreign Affairs Committee to judge Uganda’s overseas diplomatic efforts by their financial impact rather than their procedural volume. Speaking at the close of the committee’s orientation retreat, Balaba argued that foreign policy must yield concrete benefits such as new trade routes, foreign capital, and tourism growth. He stated that the recent training would only prove useful if members applied their insights to legislative and policy choices that directly enhance citizen livelihoods.
According to Nile Post, Balaba suggested creating specific criteria to determine when to open or shut down embassies, weighing their developmental value. He noted that under the Tenfold Growth Strategy, these offices should actively seek out trade partners, draw in productive capital, and facilitate technology exchange. Balaba advocated for defined metrics so that legislators can evaluate the economic yield of diplomatic work, moving beyond simple activity logs from overseas posts.
The MP also pushed for deeper committee engagement in fiscal planning, asserting that members should grasp and assume responsibility for the annual operational plans that drive spending. He asked the parliamentary clerk to brief members on recent budget execution and upcoming financial provisions. Balaba recommended organizing members into travel-based planning groups to track performance and coordinate their inputs. This method aims to verify if funding for foreign affairs bodies is sufficient and if public funds are achieving their goals.
Additionally, Balaba highlighted the need to focus on the well-being of Ugandans struggling overseas, especially migrant laborers needing legal or humanitarian help. He suggested reviewing current laws to see if they adequately shield citizens abroad and if institutional duties are clearly outlined. He also flagged a perceived lack of progress in finalizing the National Foreign Policy document, urging peers to keep pushing for its completion. Balaba encouraged lawmakers to concentrate on outcomes to ensure the foreign affairs sector remains relevant to daily life.