Kenya-Uganda hold first JMC meeting since Ruto took over

Kenya and Uganda have held their first Joint Ministerial Committee since President William Ruto took over the presidency.

This comes after a four-year break, following the postponement of the 2021 meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting was held in Kampala, Uganda and is the second in the history of Kenya-Uganda diplomatic ties.

In a joint communique, Foreign Affairs ministers Musalia Mudavadi and his Ugandan counterpart Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar have pledged to improve trade relations between the two countries.

“Recalling the strong bilateral ties of friendship that the two countries enjoy, the two ministers for Foreign Affairs reiterated their commitment to further deepen the relations between the countries by strengthening cooperation in the various sectors of the economies while ensuring regular consultations to solve any emerging issues,” the ministers said.

Jointly, the leaders from the two countries have discussed how to assess the level of implementation of previous decisions, addressing any outstanding or emerging issues and exploring new areas of cooperation under three broad areas of Foreign Affairs and Security Sector; Economic Sector; and Socio-Cultural Sector.

Following the meeting, the leaders hinted at President Museveni’s state visit to Kenya.

“The two Ministers noted that holding a Joint Ministerial Commission meeting closely followed by a State visit by H.E President Yoweri Museveni to Nairobi is a testimony of the warm, cordial and brotherly relations between Kenya and Uganda noting that these relations are based on deep historical economic and socio-cultural ties that predate the independence of both countries,”

The Ministers have also agreed that Kenya will host the Third Session of the JMC in 2026, at a date and venue to be mutually agreed upon by both parties through diplomatic channels.