I know Ruto will deliver, Museveni says

Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has expressed optimism about President William Ruto's administration.

Museveni, a long-time friend of Ruto said he has met Kenya's fifth president on several occasions and knows him as a practical person, adding that he is confident he will deliver.

"I have not read Kenya Kwanza's manifesto or that of Azimio but I Know Ruto...I have met him a number of times in Uganda and I know he likes ideas and frank talking," Museveni said on Tuesday during Ruto's inauguration.

Museveni, who has over three decades as Uganda's president challenged the East African Community (EAC) to integrate the regional market, in order to be at par with the West.

"In order for EAC countries to catch up with the US, we need to look at the issue of the regional market, because when you produce the more people that buy from you and the better for business and job creation," he said.

He further appealed to Africa's political elite to utilise resource distribution to enrich the continent.

"According to my experience of 60 years, I would advise Africans to know that prosperity comes from wealth creation."

His counterpart Burundi's Evariste Ndayishimiye on his part lauded Kenya for peaceful elections and smooth power transition.

"I will work together with Ruto to develop our region. The brotherhood between Kenya and Burundi will continue to grow," the Head of State said.

His sentiments were echoed by Tanzania's Samia Suluhu who noted Kenya's gift to the region this year was peaceful and non-violent polls.

Ruto would last year raise eyebrows when he visited Uganda within months of each other.

He made three private visits to Kampala last year. On one occasion, he travelled to Uganda on the invite of Museveni as chief guest during the official laying of the foundation stone for a vaccine manufacturing facility, but it was the private meetings thereafter that had senior government officials on high alert.