President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda and President William Samoei Ruto of the Republic of Kenya have signed seven new bilateral agreements, bringing the total number of cooperation and trade pacts between the two East African nations to 25. The signing ceremony marks a renewed commitment to strengthening economic collaboration and enhancing regional integration.
The new agreements cover a wide range of sectors including tourism, property rights, fisheries, aquaculture, agriculture, transport, and investment promotion. These Memoranda of Understanding are designed to foster mutual development and advance key economic priorities between the two countries.
Key among the agreements are those on tourism cooperation, aimed at promoting joint marketing efforts to boost visitor numbers; property rights, which focus on empowering local governments and supporting informal women and youth traders within the Greater Busia Metro area from 2025 to 2028; and fisheries and aquaculture, which seek to establish a framework for sustainable use of shared water resources.
Other agreements include cooperation in agriculture and animal industry, to strengthen food security and livestock development; transport cooperation, to improve infrastructure and logistics; standards bureau cooperation, linking the Kenya Bureau of Standards and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards; and investment promotion, which provides a framework to attract cross-border investments and technological exchange.
Speaking during a joint press conference, President Yoweri Museveni emphasized the need for African countries to fully harness their potential. He quoted from a biblical prayer to highlight missed opportunities: “They left undone what they ought to have done and did what they ought not to have done,” calling this one of the continent’s biggest setbacks.
President Museveni further stressed that the foundation of any modern economy lies in the production of goods and services, particularly in agriculture and industry. “The more goods and services you produce, the wealthier you become. But the central question remains—who buys what you produce?” he said, urging leaders to focus on market access and consumer engagement. He added that East Africa is beginning to awaken and that there is hope for deeper regional economic discourse.
On his part, President William Ruto said his deliberations with President Museveni covered a broad range of bilateral, regional, and continental priorities. “We reaffirmed our united stance on enhancing collaboration in infrastructure, trade, energy, security, and regional integration,” he said.
President Ruto highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between Kenya and Uganda, noting that the relationship is built on shared values, geographical proximity, and mutual aspirations for development. “This occasion reflects the strength of our long-standing partnership, anchored in respect, common ideals, and a shared ambition for regional progress,” he added.
The signing of these agreements marks a significant step forward in cementing the Uganda-Kenya partnership and is expected to open new doors for trade, investment, and development across the East African region.
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