Uhuru addresses Ugandan parliament

By Moses Walubiri 

KENYAN president Uhuru Kenyatta has addressed Ugandan legislators as his three-day state visit draws to a close later today.

Uhuru jetted into the country on Saturday with an entourage comprised of a number of his cabinet ministers.

Although parliament has not released the agenda of his speech, Kenyan media last week reported that Uhuru's speech is likely to touch on matters related to economic integration of the region.

Rules of procedure of parliament allow a foreign dignitary to address parliament.

The last Kenyan president to address Uganda's parliament was Mwai Kibaki in January 2012 when he called upon countries in East Africa to diversify their economies, mechanize their agriculture, industrialize and enhance tourism, among other issues.

Earlier in 2007, Queen Elizabeth of England too addressed Ugandan lawmakers during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala.

Inaugurated in April 2013, Uhuru's presidency has seen a marked improvement in relations between Uganda and Kenya with the two countries sharing ambitious infrastructural projects.

The highlight of these projects is the standard gauge railway set to link Uganda and Rwanda to Kenya's maritime port of Mombasa.