Museveni defends Kenya-Uganda sugar deal

By Mary Karugaba and Moses Mulondo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has defended the plan to export sugar from Uganda to Kenya saying its one way of enhancing regional market and supporting prosperity in the regional.

Addressing the East African Legislative Assembly in Kampala on Friday, President Museveni attacked former Kenyan premier Raila Odinga and technocrats for opposing the deal.

“I was surprised to hear my young brother Raila attacking our sugar deal. Oh my! Uganda has been supporting the prosperity of Kenya for a long time and you are blocking Ugandan sugar. What sort of logic is this?

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President Museveni interacts with the East African Legislative Assembly member from Tanzania Bernard Murunya as the EALA Speaker Dan Kidega, Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, and other EALA member s look on at parliament. Photo by Maria Wamala

Ugandan sugar should go to Kenya without any hindrance and Kenyan goods should come to Uganda without any hindrances,” Museveni said. 

Museveni promised to call Odinga over the matter and stressed that at this level of integration, states should not waste time negotiating some of the issues.

During President Uhuru Kenyatta’s official visit to Uganda, the two presidents struck a deal allowing cheaper Ugandan sugar into the Kenyan market.