NAIROBI, Kenya – Uganda and Kenya have signed eight new agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and boosting economic growth, Kenyan President William Ruto announced Wednesday during Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s official visit to Nairobi.
Speaking at State House Nairobi after witnessing the signing, Ruto said the new deals add to 17 existing agreements. He emphasized that the accords will foster people-to-people ties and provide tangible benefits for both nations.
The memorandums of understanding (MoUs) span key sectors including tourism, the Greater Busia Metro development, mining, fisheries, agriculture, livestock, transport, standards and quality assurance, and investment promotion.
“We are united in our commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and delivering shared prosperity, while working together towards a stronger and integrated region,” Ruto said.
He explained that the transport and logistics MoU aims to modernize systems and improve the movement of people and goods. Ruto briefed Museveni on the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Malaba and into Uganda, as well as the dualing of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit road, also slated to reach Malaba and continue into Uganda.
The agreement on standards and quality assurance will strengthen collaboration between the Kenya Bureau of Standards and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards to enhance trade and eliminate illicit goods. An MoU on agriculture and livestock will deepen cooperation in veterinary services and crop health, supporting regional food security, while the fisheries agreement will help both nations capitalize on the blue economy’s potential.
Ruto noted that the MoU supporting the Greater Busia Metro Project will enable joint infrastructure and development programs on both sides of the border. The mining agreement will promote responsible exploitation, build capacity and combat cross-border smuggling. The tourism agreement will facilitate joint marketing, cultural exchange and eco-tourism.
Ruto also stated that both governments are addressing cross-border challenges, including the Migingo fishing issue, and acknowledged ongoing negotiations for a Cross-Border Resource Sharing Agreement.
On trade, the Kenyan leader expressed concern over persistent non-tariff barriers hindering goods flow and undermining East African Community (EAC) integration goals. He stressed the need for a “principled, practical, and time-bound resolution” of these barriers, particularly for farmers and small traders. Upcoming meetings in October 2025, including the Joint Ministerial Commission Mid-Term Review and the Joint Trade Committee, will address these challenges.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional institutions and advancing EAC objectives: the Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and, ultimately, Political Federation.
Ruto also announced a significant joint industrial initiative. “Kenya and Uganda have agreed to establish the largest steel factory in the region. This joint project will reduce our reliance on steel imports and allow us to produce for export,” he said.
President Museveni, for his part, called on East Africa and the wider African continent to consolidate markets and strengthen local production capacity, citing the United States’ prosperity through a large, efficient market. He also reiterated Uganda’s commitment to resolving the Migingo fishing issue.
