Her turbulent tenure in Canada ended with her being declared "persona non grata" following accusations of misconduct and involvement in partisan politics.
A video of Ambassador Joy Ruth Acheng presenting her credentials in the Bahamas has sparked controversy, particularly as the Canadian government decided to deport her in August for alleged breaches of diplomatic norms.
Joy Ruth Acheng
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Many Ugandans took to social media, questioning how this situation could have occurred. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly clarified that the video is outdated.
"Old video posted recently. The Uganda High Commission in Ottawa is also accredited to The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. That video was shot when @AchengJoyRuth presented credentials as non-resident High Commissioner to The Bahamas. Kindly correct your post and followers," the ministry tweeted.
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The video was posted on TikTok two days ago by an account in her name, though it remains unclear whether she operates the account, as she has previously been impersonated on X.
The North American nation had declared Ambassador Joy Ruth Acheng "persona non grata," accusing her of misconduct. This followed an incident where Acheng was filmed in a heated exchange with National Unity Platform (NUP) protesters.
Dressed in a yellow dress—the colour of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party—she clashed with the protesters, who were chanting slogans against the Ugandan regime, citing alleged human rights violations.
Amb. Joy Ruth Aceng
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During the altercation, Acheng accused the opposition NUP of abducting its own members, stating, "You people should stop abducting yourselves; stop killing yourselves and saying it is Museveni." She also threatened to have the Canadian police arrest the protesters.
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Diplomats are strictly prohibited from engaging in party politics at their missions to maintain neutrality and uphold international diplomacy principles. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations limits their role to representing their country's interests, fostering good relations, and avoiding involvement in the political affairs of both their home and host nations.
Uganda's Ambassador to Canada Joy Ruth Aceng
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Involvement in political activities could undermine their impartiality, damage bilateral relations, and violate diplomatic protocols. Following the incident, Canadian authorities requested Ambassador Acheng's recall. This decision was made shortly after NUP President Bobi Wine and top party leaders visited Canada, meeting with local party chapters in Ottawa.
