By Mulengera Reporters
A high-profile gathering of scholars, government officials, and dignitaries convened at Cavendish University Uganda for the launch of The Foreign Policies of East African States, a new book that critically examines the region’s diplomatic landscape.
The event was on Thursday, Jan 30, graced by Veteran Journalist Andrew Mwenda, former Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura, Minister of State for Health Hon. Margaret Muhanga, and other distinguished guests from academia and government.
The book, part of the loud stream Studies in African and International Relations series, is edited by Dr. Jude Kagoro, Dr. Julian Frisinger, and Prof. Dr. Klaus Schlichte from Bremen University, Germany.
This book analyses the foreign policies of African countries, specifically in the region of East Africa and reveals the regional dynamics and the way in which the international system interacts with these policies and how they are driven by domestic politics versus national visions, and vice versa.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Kagoro highlighted the motivation behind the publication, citing a lack of academic scholarship on East Africa’s international relations. “We saw a glaring gap in how East African states interact at an academic level. Many of these relationships are highly personalized and influenced by ruling elites rather than structured diplomatic frameworks,” he noted, adding that Uganda’s foreign policy is often shaped at the State House rather than Foreign Affairs.
Dr. Alice Wabule, Dean of Socioeconomic Sciences at Cavendish University, emphasized the book’s relevance, particularly in a world where conflicts increasingly shape diplomatic relations. “This book is valuable not just for scholars but also for policymakers and students studying international relations and foreign policy. It helps us understand how national interests drive interactions among states,” she said.
Professor Moses Khisa, one of the contributors, highlighted the book’s focus on Uganda-Rwanda relations. “Our chapter examines the fluctuating relationship between these two countries, which have a shared historical and ideological origin. The familiarity between elite actors in Kampala and Kigali often leads to misunderstandings that impact official policy,” he explained.
The book brings together perspectives from scholars across East Africa, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Kagoro revealed that this is just the first edition, with a second volume planned to explore additional issues, including Somalia’s foreign relations.
The newly launched book argues that East Africa’s foreign policy is not one of militarised action alone but rather a mélange of self-survival strategies stemming from the desire to close the gap with more industrialised states necessitating a variety of trade and diplomatic efforts.
It is also of key interest to scholars and students of African politics, Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Organisations and, more broadly, to comparative politics and international relations.
The launch at Cavendish University marked a significant moment in academic discourse on East African diplomacy, opening up new avenues for research and debate in the field of international relations. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
