President William Ruto has revealed major breakthroughs in the Kenya and Uganda diplomatic relations after a closed-door meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Nairobi.
President Ruto was speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, May 16, 2024, where he, alongside President Museveni who is in the country for a three-day state visit, addressed the nation.
Ruto gave a glimpse of the agreements signed between the two heads of state during the closed-door meeting which are set to relieve the diplomatic tensions between the Eastern African neighbors.
The Head of State announced that the discussions led to a commitment to ensuring smooth trade between the two nations in a new order that would see relaxation of tariffs, among other barriers.
“I can also confirm that we have agreed in the joint communique on making sure that trade between our two countries is unimpeded either by tariffs, non-tariff barriers or levies that are arbitrary levied,” said Ruto.
According to Ruto, the two agreed that the common principle of ironing out the wars will be the full implementation of the East African Community (EAC) vision.
Ruto on Kenya-Uganda Tensions
Further Ruto revealed that the principles also involve the implementation of major infrastructural facilities that support trade in Eastern Africa countries.
Also Read: Kenya-Uganda Tension: Inside High-Level Meeting Ahead of Museveni Visit
“Therefore, all the issues around rice, juice, sugar furniture, eggs, chicken and all the other issues are now resolved,” added Ruto.
President Ruto added that among the implementation of improving infrastructural projects will be the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the oil pipeline to Uganda as part of expanding infrastructure in the region.
“The meeting also stressed the importance of extending the SGR from Naivasha to Malaba and all the way to Kampala and DRC as an efficient infrastructural development. We have obliged our respective ministers to take joint urgent measures to mobilize resources for this infrastructural project and report on progress by the end of this year,” said Ruto.
According to Ruto, Kenya and Uganda have agreed to extend the oil pipeline from Eldoret to Kampala to allow Uganda to directly import refined petroleum products through Nairobi.
Border Tensions
At the same time, Ruto announced that the two leaders expressed concern on the border tensions between the two countries.
Also Read: Ugandan Teen Sentenced in Kenya After Confessing to Killing Her Son
He said that they agreed on the border issues that have been of concern to border communities, adding that they will be visiting those regions in the near future with a view to bringing the communities together.
Ruto further said that the Ugandan leader also agreed with him on matters of peace security and stability in the East African region.
He stressed that the two countries hold common position in the necessary actions that need to be taken in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.
President Museveni is in the country for a state visit which kickstarted with holding talks with his host President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
Both Kenya and Uganda have in the past months implemented measures to end the stalemate between the two nations.
Prior to the visit, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs General Odongo Jeje Abubakhar held a high-level meeting on May 14.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
