Museveni, Kenya Foreign Secretary Mudavadi Hold Key Talks Amid Indian Ocean Access Talk

Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday night hosted Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Musalia Mudavadi, at State Lodge Mayuge, where the two leaders held extensive discussions on bilateral and regional matters.

According to President Museveni, the meeting focused on issues concerning both countries as well as the wider East African region. He said Mudavadi’s visit provided an opportunity to deepen cooperation, strengthen neighbourly relations, and reflect on shared priorities that anchor peace, stability, and economic integration in the region.

The engagement comes at a time when a lively online debate has been unfolding following President Museveni’s recent remarks about the strategic importance of access to the Indian Ocean for Uganda and other landlocked African countries.

In his earlier address, the President had emphasized that African nations without coastlines should work collectively—through regional frameworks—to ensure secure and reliable access to seaports to boost trade, lower transportation costs, and enhance economic competitiveness.

However, a portion of the public took out of context his statement that “the Indian Ocean belongs to me,” interpreting it as a territorial claim. State House has since clarified that the President’s comment was philosophical, underscoring Africa’s shared interest in the resources and maritime routes of the Indian Ocean through cooperation, not ownership.

Mudavadi’s visit therefore provided a timely platform for the two sides to reaffirm their commitment to the longstanding partnership between Uganda and Kenya, particularly in areas of trade, regional security, transport, and diplomacy.

President Museveni expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between Kampala and Nairobi, noting that the stability and prosperity of the two nations are deeply intertwined.

Further details of the discussions are expected to be shared by the respective foreign affairs ministries in the coming days.