KAMPALA — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for accelerated integration within the East African Community (EAC), urging member states to prioritize infrastructure development, deepen trade cooperation, and fast-track the establishment of a common currency to unlock the region’s economic potential.
The President made the remarks during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the East African Community, Stephen Patrick Mbundi, and his delegation at State Lodge Nakasero. The meeting was also attended by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga.
Discussions focused on trade facilitation, transport infrastructure, health, financing, staffing challenges within EAC institutions and the broader regional integration agenda.
President Museveni, who currently chairs the East African Community, emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states and ensuring that regional institutions support rather than hinder economic integration.
Referring to concerns about barriers to regional trade, the President challenged the East African Business Council to play a constructive role in building the common market.
“We should engage in a structural way and tell them that please stop misusing the member states to distort the growth of the East African market,” President Museveni said.
He also reiterated his long-standing support for integrated regional transport systems, arguing that rail transport should be prioritized for heavy cargo while roads are reserved for passengers and lighter goods.
“Now the infrastructure I totally support. We must rationalize the transport system. The railway transport should carry heavy goods and petroleum products, while roads remain for passengers and light cargo,” he said.
The President directed transport authorities and EAC officials to work together to develop practical solutions aimed at improving regional connectivity.
“The transport committee should meet and really concretize this. I totally support it. I agree. I will tell our minister of Transport, and the minister for East African Affairs here will coordinate them to meet and work out all these connections,” he added.
Museveni also welcomed a proposal that would require non-member countries exporting goods into the East African market to contribute financially to the Community.
“These people who are selling things from here, why don’t they contribute? It’s fantastic. I had not thought about it, but I think it is a new idea and a very good idea,” he noted.
Speaking at the meeting, Kadaga said President Museveni’s position as EAC chairperson comes with significant expectations given his long-standing advocacy for regional integration.
“We have a very heavy burden because you are the chair of the summit on this continent. You are well known as the champion of integration, so we have a bigger burden to deliver for the community,” Kadaga said.
She expressed hope that meaningful progress would be achieved under Museveni’s leadership, particularly on the remaining pillars of integration.
“I am really hoping that during your tenure we should be able to achieve at least the last two pillars, integration and monetary union,” she added.
A key issue during the discussions was the proposed East African Monetary Union, with Secretary-General Mbundi urging regional leaders to expedite efforts toward the adoption of a common currency.
According to Mbundi, exchange rate fluctuations continue to impose significant costs on businesses and ordinary citizens across the region.
“Your Excellency, our citizens are really suffering because of fluctuations in currency. It is a big hindrance to business,” he said.
He proposed a phased implementation strategy, arguing that waiting for all eight member states to simultaneously meet convergence requirements could delay progress indefinitely.
“I wanted to propose that countries which are able should move ahead. Eight countries cannot converge at the same time. If we could start with three or four countries, then the others can join later. Otherwise, we are not doing a good service to the population on the issue of the monetary union,” Mbundi explained.
The Secretary-General also thanked the EAC Summit for unanimously endorsing his appointment.
“I’m grateful for the confidence and trust the Summit bestowed upon me by unanimously endorsing my nomination as Secretary General of the East African Community. I wish to commit that I am ready to shoulder this obligation of steering our community to the destiny which the people of East Africa really wish,” he said.
Mbundi outlined several priorities for his tenure, including strengthening climate resilience, improving food security and expanding access to renewable energy across the region.
“We are focusing on enhancing climate resilience in agriculture, climate-smart practices, and post-harvest loss management in order to enhance food security. We are also going to focus on promoting climate-resilient water resource management in the Lake Victoria Basin and scaling up access to renewable energy,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by State Minister for East African Community Affairs James Magode Ikuya and senior officials from the EAC Secretariat.
The discussions underscored the growing push by regional leaders to accelerate economic integration, improve infrastructure connectivity and address barriers that continue to hinder trade and development within the East African Community.