President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assumed the chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) Summit, taking over from the outgoing Chairperson, William Ruto of Kenya, at the conclusion of the Heads of State Summit held at the Arusha International Conference Centre in Arusha, Tanzania.
During the summit, regional leaders also approved the appointment of Stephen Patrick Mbundi, an ambassador from the United Republic of Tanzania, as the new Secretary General of the EAC.
In his remarks as the incoming chairperson, President Museveni thanked regional leaders for entrusting him with the responsibility of guiding the Community over the next year and conveyed greetings from the people of Uganda.
He said East Africa stands at a critical moment in its history and urged leaders and citizens across the region to remain focused on what he described as the historic mission of Africa’s transformation.
Museveni reflected on what he called the challenge of “Okukonesa”, a metaphor from local languages describing food that fails to cook properly because sufficient heat is not applied long enough. He used the analogy to caution that Africa must avoid repeating past mistakes that led to colonisation and underdevelopment.
According to the President, weak leadership, disunity and failure to embrace scientific and technological advancement historically undermined the continent’s progress.
Museveni noted that by around 1900, almost the entire African continent had fallen under colonial rule due to divisions among African societies and the inability of leaders to respond strategically to the expansion of foreign powers.
Despite these challenges, he said Africa endured because of the resilience of its people and the rise of liberation movements across the continent and within the diaspora.
The President highlighted what he described as the historic mission of the African liberation struggle, centred on four key objectives: liberation, modernisation, prosperity and strategic security.
He said the guiding principle for achieving these goals remains “Uhuru na Umoja”, freedom and unity.
Economic integration key to prosperity
Museveni stressed that although many African countries achieved political independence, the task of building unity remains incomplete.
He emphasized that economic integration is essential for prosperity, noting that production alone cannot generate wealth unless producers have access to large markets.
The President observed that Africa’s combined Gross Domestic Product remains relatively small compared to major global economies, partly because fragmented markets limit industrialisation and economic transformation.
Drawing lessons from countries such as China, India and South Korea, Museveni said large internal markets are critical for sustained economic growth.
He therefore called on the region, particularly the youth, to focus on building productive economies, strengthening regional integration and avoiding distractions that could undermine long-term development goals.
Security and regional cooperation
The President also highlighted the importance of strategic security, noting that modern states must be capable of defending themselves across multiple domains including land, air, sea and space while working together to maintain regional stability.
Museveni paid tribute to historic African leaders who championed liberation and unity, including Julius Nyerere, Abeid Amani Karume, Kwame Nkrumah, Ahmed Sékou Touré and Modibo Keïta, noting that their vision for African unity remains relevant today.
He also commended Tanzania for its historic role in advancing regional integration and supporting liberation movements across Africa.
Key outcomes of the summit
Several milestones were marked during the summit. Leaders witnessed the swearing-in of judges appointed to the East African Court of Justice.
The meeting also launched the 7th EAC Development Strategy (2026/27–2030/31), aimed at guiding the bloc’s economic and institutional development over the next five years.
Additionally, the summit unveiled the EAC Customs Bond, a new initiative designed to facilitate trade across the region by simplifying customs procedures.
Regional youth excellence was also recognised through the awarding of winners of the 2024 EAC Essay Writing Competition.
The summit concluded with the presentation of the official communiqué by the EAC Secretary General outlining key resolutions adopted by the Heads of State.
Under Museveni’s chairmanship, the East African Community is expected to deepen regional integration, strengthen economic cooperation and advance the collective prosperity and security of the region’s more than 300 million citizens.
