NAIROBI, KENYA — Kenyan President William Ruto and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed eight new bilateral agreements Wednesday, July 30, 2025, deepening ties between the East African nations in areas including trade, transport, and cross-border infrastructure.
The agreements, inked during Museveni’s official visit to Nairobi, bring the total number of trade and cooperation deals between the two countries to 25.
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A significant outcome was a partnership between the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics. This agreement aims to foster scientific and technical exchange while promoting legitimate trade and curbing illicit trade between the two nations.
The leaders also addressed the longstanding dispute over Migingo Island, a contentious territorial claim that has led to clashes between Kenyan and Ugandan communities. The issue will now be managed under a new agreement on Fisheries and Aquaculture, establishing a framework for consultation and cooperation.
Boosting Regional Connectivity and Development
A key focus of the signed agreements was on transport and development, with both nations committing to enhance trade by improving logistics and infrastructure along shared corridors.
President Ruto updated Museveni on the ongoing Nairobi-Nakuru-Malaba Highway dualling project, a major initiative designed to ease the movement of goods and people between Kenya, Uganda, and the broader Great Lakes region.
Additionally, the two presidents agreed to accelerate the Busia Metro Project (2025–2028). This cross-border investment program seeks to stimulate economic growth and strengthen connections among local communities, as well as enhance the One Stop Border Post at Busia and improve connectivity to Kenya’s Port of Mombasa.
Broader Cooperation Efforts
Other agreements signed during the visit covered cooperation in tourism, the development of property rights to support local governments, mining, agriculture, and animal technology.
President Ruto announced the formation of a special committee and the appointment of a cultural envoy tasked with promoting tourism and cultural exchange among Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan.
“I have appointed a special envoy for the Atekeri people, which spans the Teso of Uganda and Kenya, the Karamojong, the Turkana, and all the way to the people of South Sudan, just to leverage the culture, tradition, and tourism of the communities living in that region,” Ruto stated.
President Museveni, speaking at the signing ceremony, underscored that modern economies are driven by the production of goods and services. He urged young people to focus on harnessing Africa’s significant market potential.
