Museveni State visit: What was discussed

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and President William Ruto signing a bilateral agreement at State House, Nairobi. [PCS]

Kenya and Uganda have agreed to jointly extend the oil pipeline from Eldoret to Kampala, a move that will see Uganda directly import refined petroleum products through Nairobi.

President William Ruto, who hosted his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni at State House, Nairobi, said that the extension will ease trade between the two countries, as well as improve the existing relations between Kampala and Nairobi.

"Kenya and Uganda are firmly united by relations deeply rooted in shared history and culture and aspirations for regional peace and prosperity, " said Ruto

"The agreement on the importation and transit of refined petroleum products through Kenya to Uganda whose signing we've just witnessed enables Uganda National Oil Company Limited to import refined petroleum products directly from producers in different jurisdictions thus bringing to an end the challenges faced by Uganda," he added.

Last year, an application by Uganda to use Kenya's pipeline to transport its fuel was turned down on concerns that the move would displace local oil marketing companies from using the pipeline.

AU Commission chairperson job

At the joint press conference, Museveni hailed East African Community (EAC) Heads of State for backing one candidate (Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga) to take up the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC).

Kenya said it is grateful for Uganda's endorsement of Odinga as the next AU Commission chairperson

"I express my gratitude to His Excellency Museveni for Uganda's endorsement of the Kenyan candidate for the position of AU chairmanship and assure him of our full confidence that our candidate will deliver effective leadership at the commission," Ruto said.

Regional Language

Not one to shy away from a historical background, Museveni called on the unification of East African nations into a federation, emphasising the need for strategic security in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.

The Ugandan Head of State challenged East Africans to utilise the shared Swahili language for economic prosperity.

"We have one dialect that is not contested. With Kisii, Giriama, you may have some issues with that, but we have one that is not; Swahili. We are not like the Europeans who don't have language," he remarked.

"When they meet in Brussels, they can't talk. Somebody is talking German; another one is talking through earphones... By the time you're finished, you're almost deaf," said Museveni amid laughter.

The long-serving Ugandan President likened Swahili language to a gold coin in the African nations' hands, stating that it is indeed an "infrastructure created by God."

"We are lucky because Swahili is not contested. Our treaty says ultimately, we should create a political federation, so, therefore, for the EAC, our target is one government for East Africa," he added.

Museveni is in Kenya for a three-day State visit. He arrived yesterday and was received by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi at the JKIA, Nairobi.