Arusha, Tanzania: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Saturday assumed the Chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) Summit, taking over from Kenya’s President William Ruto at the conclusion of the Heads of State Summit held at the Arusha International Conference Centre.
The leadership transition places Uganda at the helm of the regional bloc for the next year, with Museveni expected to steer the Community’s agenda on regional integration, economic cooperation, and security across East Africa.
During the summit, Heads of State and Government also approved the appointment of Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi of Tanzania as the new Secretary General of the East African Community.
In his inaugural remarks as Chairperson of the Summit, Museveni thanked regional leaders for entrusting him with the responsibility of guiding the Community 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 to remain focused on the continent’s historic mission of transformation.
Museveni warned against what he described as “Okukonesa,” a metaphor drawn from local dialect referring to food that fails to cook properly because the necessary heat is not applied for long enough.
According to the President, the concept reflects Africa’s historical struggle where weak leadership, disunity, and failure to adopt scientific and technological progress undermined the continent and enabled colonisation.
He noted that by 1900, almost the entire African continent had fallen under colonial rule, largely due to divisions among African societies and the inability of leaders to strategically respond to foreign encroachment.
Despite this history, Museveni said Africa endured through the resilience of its people and the emergence of liberation movements across the continent and the diaspora.
The President said the African liberation struggle had four central missions: liberation, modernisation, prosperity, and strategic security, anchored on the principle of “Uhuru na Umoja” — Freedom and Unity.
While Africa has largely achieved political independence, he said the continent still faces the unfinished task of building genuine unity.
Museveni stressed that economic integration remains key to prosperity, noting that production alone cannot generate wealth unless producers have access to large and integrated markets.
He observed that Africa’s combined GDP remains small compared to major global economies, warning that fragmented markets continue to slow the continent’s economic transformation.
Drawing lessons from China, India, and South Korea, the President emphasised that large internal markets are essential for industrialisation and economic growth.
Museveni therefore urged leaders, particularly the youth, to focus on building productive economies, strengthening regional integration, and avoiding distractions that undermine long-term development goals.
He also highlighted the importance of strategic security, saying modern states must be capable of defending themselves across multiple domains including land, air, sea, and space while working together to maintain regional stability.
The President paid tribute to historic African leaders who championed unity and liberation, including Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, Kwame Nkrumah, Ahmed Sékou Touré, and Modibo Keïta, noting that their vision of African unity remains relevant today.
He particularly commended Tanzania for its historic role in advancing regional integration and supporting liberation movements across Africa.
The summit also witnessed several key regional milestones, including the swearing-in of newly appointed judges of the East African Court of Justice, the launch of the 7th EAC Development Strategy (2026/27–2030/31), and the unveiling of the EAC Customs Bond, aimed at facilitating cross-border trade.
Leaders also recognised regional youth excellence during the summit through the 2024 EAC Essay Writing Competition awards.
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