Why Uganda’s prosperity agenda involves regional stability

By Ben Ssebuguzi

When Uganda hears that Tanzania is experiencing election violence, it raises our eyebrows, just the same way when Kenyan Gen Z set on fire our embassy on June 26, 2024, during the anti-finance bill protests.

So when there is turmoil in the East African region, it hampers the progress and development goals of our East African people.

It was a great pleasure to see President Museveni being invited to launch the Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway, which links the port to the hinterland, which is in line with Uganda’s plan of removing heavy cargo and fuel from our roads to increase efficiency and reduce the cost of doing business.

Apparently, the Gulf region is already experiencing significant turmoil following the outbreak of conflict after the Iran retaliation. The insecurity in the region has already pushed crude oil prices above $100 a barrel, which disrupts global business.

What used to be Dubai as a safe haven is no more due to severe disruptions as a result of instability in the region. As a result, Dubai hospitality, aviation, and tourism are on their knees, with regional Gulf countries losing an estimated $200m daily, as reported by allAfrica.com.

In a nutshell, Kenya and Uganda are strategic trading partners with total trade amounting to over US$1.3 billion annually, and with communal infrastructure such as the Kenya Pipeline, which transports most fuels for Uganda and Rwanda, whereby in case of insecurity, it can affect the welfare of Ugandans and East Africans as a whole.

It is therefore important that member states promote stability in the region by working together to nip in the bud any incidence of instability like in DR Congo.
Long live General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Long live Hajjat Uzeiye Namyalo.

The writer is the Head of Research Office of the National Chairman of NRM.