Uganda and Tanzania have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in energy development, trade facilitation, infrastructure connectivity and regional peace following high-level talks held in Dar es Salaam.
The renewed commitments were announced during a joint press briefing addressed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his host, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, after bilateral discussions between delegations from the two neighbouring countries.
President Samia said the meeting reviewed progress on key strategic energy projects, including oil and gas pipeline infrastructure linking Uganda to Tanzania. She noted that implementation of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is progressing well, with oil transportation expected to begin in July.
She added that the two leaders also discussed plans for a gas pipeline from Tanzania to Uganda, as well as a proposed refined oil pipeline from Uganda to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, further positioning Tanzania as a major export corridor for Uganda’s petroleum products.
On trade and logistics, President Samia said the talks focused on improving access for Ugandan traders to Tanzanian ports, particularly Tanga and Dar es Salaam, to enhance the movement of goods and lower transportation costs.
She further revealed that Tanzania has been requested to extend railway connectivity deeper into Uganda to ease cargo movement and boost cross-border trade.
The Tanzanian leader emphasised the need to eliminate persistent non-tariff barriers, noting that while cooperation between the two countries remains strong, some trade bottlenecks still exist. She said both sides agreed to work toward their removal to promote economic growth and strengthen the East African market.
President Samia also reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to continue joint energy production initiatives aimed at meeting domestic needs while supplying regional and international markets.
On regional peace and security, she said Uganda and Tanzania discussed strategies to promote stability in the Great Lakes Region, including plans to initiate dialogue processes aimed at resolving conflicts affecting the region.
President Samia welcomed President Museveni to Tanzania, describing the country as his home. She also congratulated him and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) on what she described as a landslide electoral victory, attributing it to the party’s manifesto and ideological clarity, and reaffirmed Tanzania’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Uganda.
In his remarks, President Museveni said Africa’s independence, achieved through earlier liberation struggles, must be safeguarded. He noted that modern prosperity depends on the ability of nations to produce goods and services competitively, generate income and improve the welfare of citizens.
He also highlighted the importance of strategic security cooperation, saying the two countries addressed several tactical security issues affecting the region.
President Museveni added that the meeting discussed industrial specialisation, with Tanzania taking the lead in locomotive manufacturing while Uganda focuses on textile production.
He observed that although powerful nations may exert pressure on African states, the continent’s response depends largely on internal strength, unity and economic resilience.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations for the benefit of their citizens and the wider East African region.
