Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's recent remarks claiming a right for landlocked Uganda to access the Indian Ocean have ignited a firestorm of online satire from Kenyans and prompted a cautious diplomatic response from Nairobi. The comments, which analogized regional geography to a block of flats, have resurfaced complex questions about sovereignty, economic interdependence, and the legal rights of landlocked nations in East Africa.

During a public address on Monday, November 10, 2025, President Museveni argued it was "madness" for coastal nations to restrict access to the sea. "Uganda is landlocked inside here. But where is my ocean? My ocean is the Indian Ocean. It belongs to me!" he stated, comparing Uganda to a tenant on the top floor of an apartment building who is entitled to use the shared compound. Some reports noted the President also warned that future wars could be fought over the issue of sea access, escalating the gravity of the remarks.

The reaction from Kenya was swift, particularly on social media, where the analogy was widely mocked. Leading the humorous pushback was prominent hotelier and tourism promoter Mohammed Hersi, who questioned if the same logic should apply to resources within Uganda's borders. "In this case Uganda has River Nile and also one of the biggest shares of Lake Victoria at 45pc while Tanzania is 49pc. Kenya has a paltry 6pc," Hersi pointed out. "Can we also use the same analogy to claim part of Lake Victoria?"

While the online discourse was largely satirical, the Kenyan government adopted a more measured tone. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei stated on Wednesday, November 12, that Nairobi trusts the Ugandan leader "understands matters of sovereignty and natural resources." This diplomatic approach underscores the significant economic ties between the two nations, particularly Uganda's heavy reliance on Kenya's Port of Mombasa.

Economic Lifeline vs. Sovereign Territory

Uganda is the single largest transit client for the Port of Mombasa, with some estimates indicating that over 80% of its imports and exports pass through this Kenyan gateway. The port is a critical artery for the Ugandan economy, facilitating the movement of everything from consumer goods to vital exports like coffee and tea. This dependency makes any diplomatic friction over transit and access a matter of serious economic consequence for Kampala.

President Museveni's comments are not entirely new; he has previously advocated for greater access for landlocked states. However, the recent framing of this access as an inherent "right" and entitlement to the ocean itself, coupled with mentions of potential conflict, has been viewed as a more direct challenge to Kenyan sovereignty. Historically, tensions over this crucial economic corridor have flared before. During the 1970s, then-President Idi Amin made territorial claims on parts of western Kenya, partly motivated by a desire to secure access to the port.

International Law and Regional Agreements

Under international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), landlocked states are granted the right of access to and from the sea and freedom of transit through neighboring coastal states. Article 125 of the convention explicitly states this right is for exercising freedoms of the high seas and that the terms are to be agreed upon through bilateral or regional agreements. The law provides for transit rights, not territorial or sovereign rights over another nation's coastline or ocean.

Kenya and Uganda, as members of the East African Community (EAC), have numerous agreements governing trade and transit along the Northern Corridor. These frameworks are designed to manage the very logistical and economic issues that President Museveni's remarks highlight. While some Ugandans online supported their president's call for universal sea access to be enshrined in international law, the current legal framework emphasizes negotiated agreements between sovereign states. Analysts suggest the president's rhetoric may be a tactic to gain leverage in ongoing and future negotiations over infrastructure projects like railways and pipelines.

As the satirical memes continue to circulate and diplomats work to smooth over the rhetoric, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the geopolitical complexities in East Africa. It highlights the constant negotiation between the economic needs of a landlocked powerhouse like Uganda and the sovereign integrity of its coastal neighbor, Kenya, upon which its access to the global market depends.