The United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Uganda, Deborah Malac has been recalled.
In a September 2019 statement on the US Department of State, Natalie Brown is Malac’s replacement.
According to the statement, Malac is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, has served as the Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Asmara, Eritrea since 2016.
Brown previously served as Deputy Permanent Representative and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, Italy, 2013-2016. Brown also served as Deputy Chief of Mission of U.S Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, 2010-2013.
“In a career that has spanned almost three decades, she has garnered experience in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy with a strong focus on Africa,” the statement reads in part. It adds: “That experience, coupled with her distinguished record of leadership, makes her an excellent candidate to serve as U.S Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda.”
Former US. President Barrack Obama in September 2015 nominated Malac to replace Scott Delisi as Ambassador to Uganda.
This was after Delisi announced his retirement from service with the top legislative organ, Senate confirming her appointment in November 2015.
Following confirmation, Malac took her place by presenting her credentials to President Yoweri Museveni in February 2016.
Parliament confirmed Malac’s departure through its twitter noting, “Speaker Rebecca Kadaga wished US Ambassador to Uganda well as she reached the evening of her service as American Ambassador to Uganda, and gifted her with a locally made painting, to help her remember and keep appreciating Uganda’s natural beauty.”
Before coming to Uganda, Malac was the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and also worked as Director of the Office of East African Affairs in Washington among others.
During her senate confirmation hearing, Malac highlighted helping Uganda not become complacent in its HIV fight after good performance, peace agreement in South Sudan and ensuring Uganda uphold human rights top on her agenda.
Malac leaves amid accusation she was interfering in Uganda’s internal affairs. Last week former Ethics Minister James Nsaba Buturo warned the US diplomat against what he called overstepping her mandate by regularly commenting on issues of the host nation.