The British High Commission in Kampala has announced the appointment of Lisa Chesney MBE as the new British High Commissioner to Uganda Designate.
Prior to her appointment to Uganda, Chesney was High Commissioner to Sierra Leone between 2021 and 2024.
She has experience with a range of countries, multilateral partners and government departments, encompassing diplomatic, security and defence and development issues.
Prior to Sierra Leone, she served in the Home Office, leading the UK’s Counter Extremism Unit from 2018 and acting as Gold Command for the Crime, Policing and Fire Group on COVID-19.
In the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), she served as Deputy Head Security Policy, leading on strategic security issues and delivery of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Chesney has also headed the Prevent Team within the Counter-Terrorism Department, FCDO.
She has previously been posted to Mogadishu, as Deputy Head of Mission, re-establishing a UK embassy in Somalia and to Afghanistan, as UK Head of Politics and Strategic Communications in the Provincial Reconstruction Team, in Helmand Province.
She has also held corporate and change management leadership roles and worked internationally in the private sector before joining the diplomatic service.
As the British High Commissioner to Uganda Chesney will be the UK Government’s representative in Uganda and responsible for steering the direction and agenda of the High Commission, including diplomatic and development priorities.
The British High Commission Kampala said it was delighted to welcome Lisa Chesney to the High Commission.
“Her expertise and leadership will be instrumental in steering the relationship between the His Majesty’s government and the government of Uganda and to deep collaboration on critical issues such as economic growth, climate, security and development,” they said in a statement.
