Nairobi — Museveni Flies In to Tackle Migingo Rift & Reinforce Trade Ties with Ruto

Nairobi | July 30, 2025

In a high-stakes diplomatic mission, Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni arrived in Nairobi today for an official visit with President William Ruto, focusing on long-standing tensions over Migingo Island and broader regional cooperation on trade, infrastructure, and security.

 Migingo on the Agenda

Top of the agenda is the protracted dispute over Migingo Island, the tiny but economically strategic rock in Lake Victoria that has periodically strained Kenya–Uganda relations due to competing claims and fishing rights tensions. Dropped fisherman arrests and law enforcement frictions have fueled diplomatic fragility in recent months.

During pre-visit talks with Kenya’s High Commissioner in Kampala, Museveni welcomed Kenya’s local diplomatic efforts, expressing optimism that the talks “preserve [Migingo] for mutual benefit.” He highlighted ongoing de-escalation and dialogue efforts involving local leadership.

High Commissioner Joash Maangi confirmed that a Kenyan delegation had recently visited the island and that many outstanding issues had been resolved through direct dialogue.

Trade & Integration Deals

Museveni and Ruto seized the opportunity to announce eight new bilateral agreements, raising the total partnerships between Kenya and Uganda to 25. These cover strategic areas such as trade, transport, energy, tourism, agriculture, statistics, and infrastructure.

Notable projects include:

• Collaboration between KNBS and UNBS to stem illicit trade and enhance data sharing.

• Acceleration of infrastructure developments, including dualling the Nairobi–Nakuru–Malaba corridor, enhancing movement of goods to Uganda, South Sudan, and beyond.

• Progress on the Busia Metro Project (2025–2028) and upgrades to One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) at Busia and Suam to ease trade logistics.

President Ruto also announced the formation of a cultural envoy and a regional committee to boost tourism and cultural exchange among Ateker-speaking communities spanning Kenya, Uganda, and parts of South Sudan.

Security & Pastoral Conflicts

Beyond Migingo, Museveni addressed cross-border security challenges in the Karamoja–Sebei–Turkana corridor, calling for a paradigm shift from seasonal pastoralism to settled irrigation-based agriculture, drawing on Israel’s desert farming model. He urged governments and communities to abandon conflict-prone nomadic lifestyles.

The Ugandan leader advocated for traditional reconciliation ceremonies to resolve historical killings involving security personnel, suggesting they be organized in Moroto with government and community leaders.

Why This Visit Matters

This rare summit between the two presidents comes amid renewed calls for redefining Kenya–Uganda ties beyond episodic disputes. Building on quiet diplomacy earlier in 2025, the visit reflects a deliberate effort to translate rhetoric into frameworks for shared benefit.

With both nations positioned as East Africa’s economic anchors, the visit is a pivot toward longer-term stability grounded in trade, integration, and conflict resolution.

Summary Table

Final Word: Diplomacy in Action

President Museveni’s high-profile visit underscores a shift from diplomatic friction to functional collaboration. With trade pacts, infrastructure partnerships, and community reconciliation on the table, the Kenya–Uganda relationship could be entering a new chapter—one where shared challenges become development opportunities.