By Aggrey Baba
Uganda and Kenya have deepened their strategic partnership with the signing of seven new bilateral agreements, further strengthening economic, political, and regional ties between the two neighbouring countries.
The deals, signed yesterday, Wednesday, in Nairobi during President Yoweri Museveni’s state visit to Kenya, touch on a broad spectrum of shared interests, ranging from mineral development, agriculture, and fisheries, to cross-border trade, transport infrastructure, tourism, and investment promotion.
The latest accords raise the total number of formal cooperation agreements between Uganda and Kenya to 25, underscoring what both presidents described as a renewed commitment to mutual progress and East African unity.
Museveni, who was accompanied by top ministers and officials from key economic and foreign affairs portfolios, was hosted by William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, where the two presidents also held closed-door talks on regional peace and global reforms, with Museveni, during a joint press briefing asserting that what Africa must do now is rationalise her economies, not only producing, but also to know who buys what, they produce, and that is how transformation begins.
Among the newly signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) is a joint commitment to develop the mining sector, including frameworks for exploration, production, and value addition of mineral resources.
Another key deal focuses on agriculture and animal industry, with the aim of boosting food security, modernising farming practices, and enhancing livestock development across both nations.
In the fisheries and aquaculture space, both governments pledged to support sustainable fishing, aquaculture expansion, and collaborative resource management in water bodies shared by the two nations.
Transport and logistics featured prominently on the agenda, with the two countries agreeing to strengthen regional supply chains and cross-border infrastructure (critical for trade, tourism, and connectivity within the East African Community).
To position the region as a single tourism destination, the two sides committed to jointly market EAC attractions globally. In a related move, they signed a separate MoU to support urban development in the Greater Busia Metropolitan Area, a move set to unlock new investment and improve infrastructure in border towns.
Another major highlight was the investment promotion agreement, designed to streamline business facilitation and open new channels for private sector collaboration.
A crucial deal was signed between the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), creating a joint mechanism for harmonising product quality, safety protocols, and certification procedures (key steps toward easing cross-border trade).
UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa and KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries.
