Eswatini Revokes Ugandan Honorary Consul’s Appointment Over Alleged Extortion and Fraud
MBABANE, Eswatini – In a significant diplomatic move, the Kingdom of Eswatini has revoked the appointment of Quilino Bamwine as its Honorary Consul in Uganda, citing serious allegations of extortion, fraud, and involvement in a criminal land transaction.
The dismissal, effective October 31, 2025, was communicated in a letter from Ambassador Mahlaba A. Mamba, Eswatini’s Permanent Representative to the African Union. The decision underscores a firm stance against misconduct to protect the kingdom’s diplomatic integrity.
Ambassador Mamba’s letter revealed that Bamwine, who was appointed as Eswatini’s first honorary consul to Uganda in 2020, had “failed to respond” to an official warning issued on September 19. Despite repeated interventions by Ugandan authorities, Bamwine allegedly continued his illicit activities and confronted the ambassador unprofessionally.
“Additional allegations of serious misconduct including extortion, fraud, and other criminal activities have since emerged,” the ambassador stated. “Of particular concern are reports implicating you in a land transaction that appears to constitute a criminal act.”
The embassy noted that it had received persistent complaints from both government authorities and private individuals regarding the consul’s behavior. With no signs of reform, the mission was left with no option but to report the alleged misconduct and advise the immediate revocation of Bamwine’s appointment.
The correspondence, copied to Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marks a rare instance of public diplomatic censure in the region. It also highlights growing scrutiny over the conduct of diplomatic personnel.
In response, the Ugandan government has expressed concern over the incident and affirmed its commitment to collaborating with Eswatini to address the matter. The revocation adds to a series of recent diplomatic scandals in Uganda involving allegations of financial misconduct among foreign service officials.
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