During the colonial days and for some years after independence, people going abroad for further studies and duty were first given training in etiquette, so that they did not embarrass the country.

They used to undergo residential training at the Uganda Social Training Institute then at Nsamizi in Entebbe.

The curriculum then must have included things like identifying the correct wine glass at dinner, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ which don’t come easily in some of our languages and some ballroom dancing steps.

Such training is no longer necessary because the number of people going abroad is staggering and is mostly privately arranged; our people are now already exposed before they leave the country as many of them live in modern homes, go to school, watch TV and already encounter modern public facilities in Kampala.

But the country today is getting terribly bad publicity from the very people who are supposed to promote its image - its diplomats. World over, the only crime a diplomat is expected to be accused of is ‘conducting oneself in a manner incompatible with diplomatic status…”, which is official parlance for spying.

When a diplomat is expelled for spying, it is understandable that he was conducting the illegal activity on behalf of his country. It may be illegal but not entirely dishonourable, after all, even the most friendly countries gather intelligence on their allies. Sometimes, they even pass on the findings to the very country they have spied on.

In Uganda’s case, you rarely hear of a diplomat being accused of spying. Instead, you hear of sex assault, overstaying a student visa or smuggling narcotics. Now dealing drugs is a very serious offence which in some countries fetches the death sentence. So cheap diplomats who are trafficking heroin are lucky not to be caught in Singapore.

But where did such crude people emerge from to start manning our diplomatic services, which are expected to be the hallmark of superb self conduct? Aren’t diplomats supposed to be the most refined people on earth?

One problem seems to be lack of merit in securing the postings. If someone has not gone through the proper recruitment channels followed by proper training, they are bound to mess up on being posted. So whoever is responsible for hiring diplomats should teach them what is permissible, even if it means reopening Nsamizi training institute.

The bottom line should be that nobody is conscripted into diplomatic service. If you cannot manage with the official salary and allowances, do not take the job.