Uganda’s motto is “For God and My Country.” It stands as a call to unity and a reminder of the nation’s shared values, ideals, and aspirations. It blends spiritual conviction with patriotic duty, urging Ugandans to honor God’s principles and serve their country with integrity and devotion.
Nowhere is this spirit more visible than in the foreign service. Officers serve both at home and in distant lands, representing Uganda in environments that are often unfamiliar. These missions, known as embassies, become the spaces where officers meet new people, navigate diverse cultures, and uphold Uganda’s interests with diplomacy and grace.
Embassies operate through two key groups: home-based staff and locally recruited staff. Home-based staff are deployed from Uganda and typically serve abroad for four-year periods. Local staff, on the other hand, are hired within the host country and often serve for many years. They become the institutional memory of the mission, linking past and present, and providing continuity in systems that naturally shift with postings.
Both groups are essential. They complement each other’s strengths, and neither can function effectively without the other. While home-based staff bring direct representation from Uganda, local staff offer stability, cultural insight, and long-term support that keep the mission grounded and functional.
I have had occasion to work with long-serving members of local staff. Ms. Joan Mack and Ms. Carol Jackson of New York were exemplary in their service. They served as tutors to new officers in New York. They are both now enjoying their hard-earned right to retire in peace, satisfied that they supported many officers who went on to hold senior political and technical positions. Among these were Ambassadors Apollo Kironde, Grace Ibingira, Otema Allimadi, Olara Otunu and others.
While New York was a delight, especially with such a distinguished group of local staff, Riyadh is a revelation. Two members of staff stand out both in their years of service and their unmatched devotion to duty. Mr. Omar Ali Fadul and Mr. Mohammad Shafique Raja, a translator and driver respectively, are exceptional.
Mr. Omar Ali Fadul joined the Embassy in 1984. He recalls being young, vibrant, and full of ideas. These qualities have never left him. His faith and his love for Uganda only grow stronger with time. A national of the Republic of the Sudan, he served diligently even during periods when Uganda and Sudan faced diplomatic strain. He praises Uganda and Ugandans for their unwavering values rooted in the national motto “For God and My Country.”
Omar originally came to Saudi Arabia from Menna City in Niger State, Nigeria, where he had been an expatriate teacher. Nigeria was experiencing economic decline as the oil boom faded, prompting many foreigners to leave. He arrived in Saudi Arabia at the right moment, just as the Embassy of Uganda was recruiting. A translation role was needed; he applied, qualified, and was appointed. Forty-one years later, he is still at post. He has raised and educated his children through university and is now a proud grandfather. He remains deeply grateful for the kindness and hospitality he received from Uganda and Ugandans.
Ugandans are equally appreciative of Omar. His dedicated service under seven heads of mission has made him the Embassy’s foundation of continuity. He provides the historical context that helps the mission interpret the present correctly. Without him, many things would likely have gone astray. He is, in many ways, the father figure of the Embassy, respected, respectful, humble, and always cheerful.
The strength of a chain is determined by its weakest point, so the saying goes. The list of Riyadh Embassy staff would be incomplete without Mr. Mohammad Shafique Raja, a driver. He joined the Embassy in 1995, thirty years ago. Before that, he worked with the Embassies of Tanzania and China, giving him a diplomat’s familiarity with mission culture. Over his thirty years of service, he has chauffeured six heads of mission. He speaks warmly of Ugandans, praising their kindness, hospitality, and openness. He is the so-called weak point that strengthens the chain.
Shafique believes in Uganda’s potential to rise far beyond its current status. His visit to Uganda earlier this year strengthened that conviction. He is grateful to the Embassy, which enabled him to educate his children at university level. As a proud Pakistani father, he speaks highly of his youngest son, now an officer in the armed forces.
The story of Omar and Shafique, who together have served Uganda for seventy-one years, reflects the character of Ugandans and their ability to build meaningful relationships. Credit goes to all who have served this mission. Their work shows that stability and efficiency thrive in an atmosphere of peace, security, and mutual respect.
Shafique and Omar have been able to serve Uganda this long because of how they were welcomed, treated, and valued. As our national motto states, FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY. We must uphold its spiritual and patriotic ideals if peace and harmony are to flourish both at home and in our embassies.
Gratitude is due to Mr. Omar and Mr. Shafique for their unwavering service to the Republic of Uganda. To all our local staff across Uganda’s missions abroad, you are the unsung heroes who help the Pearl of Africa shine. Thank you. Without you, the candle would dim.
