EAC’s high hopes for Museveni’s chairmanship

_______________

President Yoweri Museveni assumed the chairpersonship of the East African Community (EAC) Summit on March 7, 2026, for the next year, amid high hopes that it will open a new chapter in the bloc’s history.

“New era as Uganda takes up the Chair of the East African Community Summit! Congratulations to HE President Museveni,” the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, exclaimed via X on Sunday (March 8).

Museveni took over from his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, at the 25th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State and Government in Arusha, Tanzania.

Ruto affirmed that the EAC was firmly on a strengthening path that would empower, integrate and connect over 300 million citizens within their borders, unlocking greater opportunities for trade, peace and shared prosperity.

Samia Suluhu, the Tanzanian president, also took to X and noted that 26 years since the revival of the EAC, it has continued to be a vital platform for uniting the strengths of their brotherly nations, amplifying their collective voice on various issues and building a prosperous future for the citizens of East Africa.

Uganda’s Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, said they look forward to Museveni’s leadership guidance in enhancing regional integration, strengthening economic cooperation and growth from last year’s $40.3b, and advancing initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of citizens across the bloc.

“With your capable leadership, knowledge and skills, Ugandans and EAC member states will have no regrets in placing their trust in you,” she said on X.

Uganda’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, also took to X and said that Museveni’s experience and leadership qualities are what are needed for the regional integration agenda.

He thanked Ruto for his leadership in the previous year.

Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament Anita Among noted that Museveni’s steadfastness, experience and principled pan-Africanist ideology equip the summit with reliable guidance to effectively steer the region.

After being appointed the new chairman, Museveni thanked his fellow EAC leaders for entrusting him with the responsibility of serving them.

“Africa must avoid what I call ‘Okukonesa’, the mis-cooking of the African revolution. Historically, our weaknesses of disunity, poor leadership and failure to adopt science allowed the continent to be colonised,” he noted.

He noted that they achieved Uhuru (freedom) and the next mission must be Umoja (unity). “Prosperity comes from production and markets. Fragmented markets keep Africa poor. In Luganda, we say: ‘Omuggo oguli ku mulirano tegugoba ngo.’ The stick in the neighbour’s house cannot chase away the leopard,” he said.

He emphasised that Africa must build its own internal market through integration, saying the EAC and continental integration are, therefore, not optional.

“The mission remains: Uhuru na Umoja, freedom and unity,” he added via X.

Museveni has been saying that they recognise the vision of former president Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya), Mwalimu Julius Nyerere (Tanzania) and Dr Milton Obote (Uganda).

He says the trio’s bold decision to establish the EAC was a significant step, even though the political federation they envisioned was not fully realised. “Integration is essential for both economic prosperity and strategic security,” he says.

The bloc now comprises eight countries, namely Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia.