By Sharon Tibenda

30th January 2012:

The new British High Commissioner

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office [FCO] in London has announced the appointment of a new Ambassador to Uganda.  In a statement issued last week, the FCO said Ms Alison Blackburne will be the new British High Commissioner to the Republic of Uganda.

Ms Blackburne will take over from Mr Martin Shearman in August 2012.  According to the FCO, Mr Martin Shearman will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.

She joined the FCO in 1987 and has held a variety posts in London and abroad. She has previously served overseas in Warsaw, Stockholm, New York (UK Permanent Mission to the UN), Harare and Brussels (UK Permanent Representation to the EU), as well as more recent short-term attachments in Jakarta and Washington. She also spent two years on loan to the Ministry of Justice as Principal Private Secretary to the Justice Secretary.

Upon her appointment as British High Commissioner to the Republic of Uganda, Ms Blackburne said, “…I am honoured and delighted to have been appointed High Commissioner to Uganda. I look forward to having the opportunity to lead the UK’s engagement with Uganda across the wide range of issues where we have shared interests, and to develop further the strong bilateral relationship.”

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