Diplomatic Response to Controversial Remarks

The Kenyan government has moved to de-escalate diplomatic tensions following remarks by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who warned of potential future wars over sea access for landlocked nations. On Wednesday, 12th November 2025, during a quarterly media briefing in Nairobi, Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Dr. Korir Sing'Oei, addressed the issue, stating that the comments were likely metaphorical and not a literal threat.

“I will not comment much on what President Museveni said with respect to our oceans, but I believe very much that he does have a fairly great understanding of our territory and the nature of our rights with respect to our natural resources,” PS Sing'Oei stated. Nairobi's official position emphasized a commitment to international territorial laws, regional cooperation, and peaceful diplomacy.

The controversy began on Sunday, 9th November 2025, when President Museveni, speaking during a radio interview at Mbale State Lodge, described the denial of sea access to landlocked countries as “madness.” He argued that Uganda was entitled to the Indian Ocean for both economic and strategic defense purposes. “That is why we have had endless discussions with Kenya. This one stops, another comes. The railway and the pipeline – we discuss. But that ocean belongs to me. Because it is my ocean. I am entitled to that ocean. In the future we're going to have wars,” Museveni was quoted as saying.

Economic Interdependence and Strategic Importance

President Museveni's comments touch upon a critical economic lifeline for Uganda. The Port of Mombasa serves as the primary gateway for the vast majority of Uganda's international trade. According to reports from the Kenya Ports Authority and other economic analyses, Uganda accounts for approximately 82% of all transit cargo moving through Mombasa, making it the port's single largest client. In 2018, for instance, Uganda's import cargo via Mombasa reached 7.4 million tonnes. This heavy reliance underscores the deep economic integration and interdependence between the two East African Community (EAC) neighbours.

The issue of infrastructure, particularly pipelines, is central to the discussion. For years, the two nations have been in talks over joint projects. A 2013 agreement to construct a crude oil pipeline from Hoima to Lamu Port as part of the LAPSSET corridor project eventually stalled, with Uganda later signing a deal with Tanzania in 2022 for an alternative route to the Port of Tanga. However, discussions were revived in July 2024 to extend the existing Kenyan petroleum products pipeline from Eldoret to Kampala, a project seen as strategic for Kenya to maintain its competitive edge in the regional fuel market.

A Complex Diplomatic Backdrop

The timing of the Ugandan leader's remarks is notable, coming amidst a period of delicate diplomatic interactions. Just days prior, on Saturday, 8th November 2025, two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were released after being detained in Uganda for 38 days. Their release followed what Kenya's Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs described as “intense diplomatic engagement.” President Museveni later admitted he had ordered their arrest, accusing them of being “experts in riots” working with the opposition.

In a seemingly contradictory, yet concurrent development, a high-level delegation from the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) visited Kenya on a benchmarking mission. Led by Deputy Commander Land Force Major General Francis Takirwa, the delegation met with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) at Moi Air Base in Nairobi on Wednesday, 12th November 2025. The official purpose of the visit was to study the KDF's Defence Forces Welfare Services (DEFWES), focusing on support systems for military personnel. While framed as a routine technical exchange, the visit's occurrence just a day after Museveni's remarks was widely noted by regional observers.

As of Thursday, 13th November 2025, the East African Community (EAC) secretariat had not issued a formal statement on the matter. The situation remains a bilateral issue being managed between Nairobi and Kampala, with Kenya's government signaling a clear preference for a calm and measured approach that prioritizes the long-standing economic and security partnership between the two nations.