international relations 23 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Shs19 Billion Uganda Embassy in Abuja Faces Delays Amidst Payment Disputes
Construction of Uganda's new High Commission building in Abuja, Nigeria, valued at Shs19 billion, is stalled due to ongoing payment disputes between the contractor, DESERECT Nigeria Ltd, and Ugandan diplomats. The project, initially slated for completion in April 2024, is reportedly 95 percent complete but remains unfinished. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/nigerian-firm-diplomats-tangle-over-shs19-billion-abuja-embassy-building--5470978
The completion of Uganda’s new High Commission chancery building in Abuja, Nigeria, is shrouded in uncertainty and financial contention, over six years after construction commenced. The Shs19.7 billion project, which includes an office block and residential apartments, was initiated in July 2022 with an expected completion date of April 2024.
Despite being reported as 95 percent complete, the project has encountered numerous setbacks. Previous diplomatic leadership, including Ambassador Nelson Ocheger, faced allegations of money laundering, leading to their recall and investigations, though they were later cleared of wrongdoing. At the initial projected completion date, sufficient funds were reportedly available in both the project’s Naira and dollar accounts to cover the remaining works.
However, recent communications reveal a strained relationship between the contractor, DESERECT Nigeria Ltd, and the Ugandan Mission. In a letter dated December 24, 2025, the contractor expressed distress over withheld payments and approvals since July 2024, hindering the project’s reactivation. The contractor stated they were promised a positive resolution after a November 2025 visit from Kampala, which did not materialize, delaying expected work resumption in January 2026.
Further complicating matters, an accounting officer at the mission raised concerns based on reports from the Auditor General and the Public Procurement & Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), linking payment settlements to the satisfactory resolution of these issues. An ad hoc Technical Advisory Team (TAT) was formed, identifying architectural and civil defects, while audit reports detailed anomalies including unapproved time extensions and cost revisions.
In April 2026, a communication indicated that the original contract had expired and terminated by effluxion of time, with no further extensions possible due to regulatory limits and fund unavailability. The contractor was then asked to submit documents to process a payment for work done between May 2025 and March 2026.
Adding to the Mission’s challenges, local Nigerian staff protested unpaid salaries, leading to police intervention on diplomatic grounds, a breach of diplomatic convention.