KAMPALA, Uganda — The Kingdom of Eswatini has taken the rare step of revoking the appointment of its Honorary Consul in Uganda, Quilino Bamwine, following a series of serious allegations linking him to extortion, fraud, and a criminal land transaction.
The move represents a significant diplomatic censure in East Africa and intensifies the scrutiny surrounding alleged misconduct by Uganda-based foreign representatives.
In a letter dated October 31, 2025, Eswatini’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Mahlaba A. Mamba, confirmed the revocation.
The letter stated that Mr. Bamwine had “failed to respond” to earlier warnings and continued alleged illicit activities despite repeated attempts by Ugandan authorities to intervene.
“Additional allegations of serious misconduct including extortion, fraud, and other criminal activities have since emerged,” the letter states. “Of particular concern are reports implicating you in a land transaction that appears to constitute a criminal act.”
Ambassador Mamba added that both “government authorities and private individuals” had lodged persistent complaints regarding the consul’s conduct.
Unprofessional and unacceptable conduct
The Ambassador expressed frustration over the consul’s behaviour during attempts to resolve the issue, using unusually direct diplomatic language. He described Mr. Bamwine’s conduct during an attempted meeting as “both unprofessional and unacceptable.”
“You appeared unannounced on the day of my departure, demanding to know why the issues were raised in writing rather than verbally,” Mamba wrote. “The manner in which you addressed me was most disturbing.”
Ambassador Mamba confirmed that the Eswatini government had “advised that we revoke your appointment as Honorary Consul… with immediate effect.”
The correspondence, which was copied to Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also noted that Uganda’s Office of the Chief of Protocol had expressed “grave concern” about the matter and had sought collaboration with the Eswatini mission to jointly address the issue.
Broader governance concerns
The revocation signals Eswatini’s commitment to protecting its diplomatic integrity following claims that the consul misused his position for personal enrichment through alleged payments and real-estate exploitation.
This case adds to a growing list of scandals involving Ugandan envoys and foreign missions. Earlier in 2025, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria was recalled over alleged financial improprieties.
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Furthermore, in 2024, Britain sanctioned three Ugandan officials under its global anti-corruption laws for misappropriating public funds, highlighting persistent governance concerns.
The Eswatini decision is expected to intensify calls for Kampala to tighten the vetting and supervision of honorary consuls—business individuals typically appointed to advance foreign interests without receiving a government salary.
As one Kampala-based governance expert noted, “Uganda’s foreign-service system is under pressure to prove that diplomacy and personal enrichment are not becoming synonymous.”
The incident spotlights the limited accountability mechanisms governing consular figures who often operate in the complex overlap between state representation and private business interests.
