The newly appointed Uganda Country Manager of the African Development Bank Group, Themba Bhebhe, has formally presented his Letter of Accreditation to Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Abubaker Jeje Odongo, marking the start of his official duties in the East African country.
The accreditation ceremony took place on 25 February 2026 in Kampala, where Odongo welcomed Bhebhe and reaffirmed Uganda’s longstanding development partnership with the Bank. He noted that the AfDB has invested about $5.2 billion in Uganda since beginning operations in the country in 1968, supporting a wide range of development programmes.
According to the minister, the government expects the collaboration to continue supporting national development priorities, particularly in sectors that strengthen economic growth, infrastructure development and resilience to climate-related challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the AfDB, Sidi Ould Tah, Bhebhe expressed appreciation for Uganda’s continued partnership with the multilateral lender and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to advancing the country’s development agenda.
The AfDB’s portfolio in Uganda spans several strategic sectors critical to sustainable development. These include investments in transport infrastructure aimed at improving regional connectivity, energy projects designed to expand electricity access, and agriculture and rural development initiatives that enhance climate resilience and strengthen agricultural value chains.
The Bank has also supported programmes in education, water and sanitation, while providing emergency assistance to communities affected by climate-related disasters, including floods that hit parts of the country in late 2025.
Uganda remains one of the Bank’s key partners in East Africa, with multiple ongoing operations focused on infrastructure, energy and human capital development. The institution has also backed regional initiatives such as electricity interconnection projects aimed at improving power reliability and facilitating cross-border energy trade within the East African Power Pool.
Before his new assignment in Uganda, Bhebhe served as the AfDB Country Manager for South Sudan, where he oversaw development programmes focused on infrastructure expansion, economic resilience and improved access to essential services.
His appointment is expected to strengthen the AfDB’s engagement with Uganda as the country advances investments in infrastructure, energy access and climate-resilient development.
