Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, signed eight new bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening ties between the two East African countries, focusing on trade, transport, and cross-border infrastructure.
The new agreements, signed during President Museveni’s official visit to Nairobi, bring the total number of trade and cooperation pacts between the two nations to 25.
Among the key outcomes was a partnership deal between the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics, intended to foster scientific and technical collaboration while promoting legitimate trade and reducing illicit cross-border transactions.
The two leaders also tackled the long-standing territorial dispute over Migingo Island, which has previously sparked tensions between Kenyan and Ugandan communities. This issue will now be addressed through a new agreement on Fisheries and Aquaculture that provides a structured framework for dialogue and joint management.
Transport and infrastructure featured prominently in the talks, with both presidents committing to expand and modernize logistics systems to support smoother trade and movement of people along shared regional corridors.
President Ruto briefed President Museveni on the progress of the Nairobi–Nakuru–Malaba Highway dualling project, a major infrastructure initiative designed to facilitate trade between Kenya, Uganda, and the wider Great Lakes region.
The two leaders also pledged to fast-track the Busia Metro Project (2025–2028), a major cross-border investment program expected to stimulate economic activity, improve the One Stop Border Post at Busia, and enhance connectivity to Kenya’s key trade hub, the Port of Mombasa.
Beyond infrastructure, the bilateral agreements also covered other vital sectors such as tourism, mining, agriculture, property rights, and animal technology.
President Ruto announced the formation of a dedicated committee and the appointment of a cultural envoy tasked with promoting tourism and cultural integration among Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan.
“I have appointed a special envoy for the Atekeri people, which spans the Teso of Uganda and Kenya, the Karamojong, the Turkana, and all the way to the people of South Sudan, just to leverage the culture, tradition, and tourism of the communities living in that region,” President Ruto declared.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, President Museveni emphasized that contemporary economies thrive on the production of goods and services and encouraged the youth to take advantage of Africa’s vast market potential.
He urged young people to become more proactive in driving economic productivity and regional integration, highlighting the importance of these agreements as a roadmap to a more interconnected and prosperous East Africa.
