KAMPALA — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has returned to Uganda after attending the 25th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State in Arusha, where he assumed the rotating chairmanship of the regional bloc.
The Ugandan president took over leadership of the East African Community (EAC) from William Ruto, the president of Kenya, during the summit that brought together heads of state from the seven-member regional organisation.
The summit, held in northern Tanzania, focused on regional integration, trade, and strengthening cooperation among member states.
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, President Museveni was received by Milly Babirye Babalanda, the Minister for the Presidency, David Isimbwa, Samuel Akena, and James Ochaya, among other officials.
In a message shared after returning from the summit, Museveni thanked Samia Suluhu Hassan, the president of Tanzania, for hosting the meeting.
“I arrived from Tanzania after a successful EAC summit. I thank H.E. Samia Suluhu for the warm welcome. Long live East Africa. Long live Africa,” Museveni said.
Earlier, the president expressed gratitude to fellow regional leaders for entrusting him with the responsibility of chairing the EAC Summit over the next year.
“I thank their excellencies, the Heads of State of the East African Community, for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving as Chairperson of the EAC Summit for the next year,” Museveni said.
Museveni emphasised the importance of African unity and stronger regional markets, warning against divisions that historically weakened the continent.
“Historically, our weaknesses of disunity, poor leadership and failure to adopt science allowed the continent to be colonised. We achieved Uhuru (freedom). The next mission must be Umoja (unity),” he said.
He added that economic prosperity in Africa depends on expanding production and building integrated markets across the continent.
“Prosperity comes from production and markets. Fragmented markets keep Africa poor,” Museveni noted.
The East African Community, which currently includes Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, aims to promote regional economic integration through a customs union, common market and eventually a political federation.
Museveni’s one-year tenure as chairperson is expected to focus on strengthening trade among member states and advancing the bloc’s long-standing integration agenda.
