Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on November 20 to reaffirm bilateral ties and address concerns over regional conflicts. The discussions followed Museveni's recent warnings about potential war if Uganda's access to the Indian Ocean remains restricted. Both leaders emphasized commitment to East African integration.
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, held talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at Mayuge State Lodge in Uganda. The meeting, attended by Kenya's High Commissioner to Uganda Joash Maangi and other officials, aimed to strengthen ties amid rising concerns over access to the Indian Ocean for landlocked Uganda.
A statement from Mudavadi's office highlighted the reaffirmation of Kenya's commitment to the East African Community (EAC) principles of regional integration. It noted that Presidents William Ruto and Museveni would 'continue building bridges that benefit the citizens of both nations' through economic, social, and political cooperation. The leaders also discussed broader bilateral and regional issues to ensure stability and mutual interests.
The visit came shortly after Museveni's November 8 interview, where he warned of potential conflict with Kenya. 'That is why we have had endless discussions with Kenya. We discuss the railway and the pipeline, but that ocean belongs to me. I am entitled to that ocean. In the future, we are going to have wars,' Museveni stated, emphasizing Uganda's economic and security needs for sea access.
In response, Mudavadi assured on November 20 that Museveni's remarks were taken out of context and should not be interpreted literally. 'I want to assure you that we are not going to go to war, and we as a country have always, since time immemorial, provided safe passage and free passage for goods from landlocked countries,' he explained.
During a press address at the same venue, Museveni proposed forming an East African Military Federation to bolster regional defense. This would unite armed forces from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 'I want the formation of the East African Federation. The Federation of East Africa would bring together our countries here and would be a very strong force,' he said. Museveni argued it would create a 'centre of gravity for the black race' and prevent foreign invasions, citing Libya's 2011 intervention as an example of Africa's vulnerabilities. 'Who can rescue Africa now? The other time Libya was attacked by foreigners, and we were just here looking,' he added.
These developments underscore ongoing efforts to navigate tensions while pursuing deeper East African unity.