National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has shared details of a meeting he held with Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
In an update on Monday, December 8, Wetang'ula said the engagement took place when the EAC Bureau of Speakers paid a courtesy call to the Ugandan military chief.
Wetang'ula said the meeting focused on issues affecting both Kenya and Uganda, especially matters surrounding Lake Victoria.
He explained that he used the opportunity to raise concerns about how the shared resources of the lake should be managed fairly.
"Early today, the EAC Bureau of speakers paid a courtesy call to General Muhoozi. In a tête-à-tête meeting with General Muhozi, I highlighted the importance of equitable sharing of the common resources of Lake Victoria," he said.
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Wetang'ula added that he raised the long-standing issue of harassment of Kenyan fishermen by Uganda’s security forces around Migingo.
He noted that Muhoozi acknowledged the problem, and both sides agreed on the need for better cooperation to manage the lake’s security.
"Of concern to me also was the issue of harassment faced by Kenyan fishermen from Uganda's lake security forces in Migingo an issue acknowledged by Gen. Muhoozi, we emphasized the necessity for both countries to collaborate in developing a common security architecture for the lake.
"This approach aims to safeguard its ecosystem, environment, and shared resources. Additionally, General Muhoozi praised the EAC Parliamentary Games as a vital initiative for promoting unity among the people of the region," he concluded.
This comes weeks after President William Ruto moved to shut down speculation over claims that Uganda is ready to take drastic action to access the Indian Ocean.
Speaking on Sunday, November 23, he stressed that the narrative was misleading and did not reflect the reality of the long-standing relationship between the two nations.
Ruto first addressed the suggestion that Uganda had made aggressive statements about sea access, saying reports in the media had created a false story.
"People in the journalism space tried to create an impression that Uganda had said something to the effect that they need to access the sea by all means.
"Let me assure the naysayers that Uganda and Kenya are brothers and sisters, and we do not have time for negative engagement," he said.
Ruto further explained that Uganda’s access to the sea through Kenya remains guaranteed and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening regional ties.
"Uganda is assured of the access to the sea through Kenya, and that is why we are not only extending the pipeline, we are also extending the road, and we are also extending the railway, because we believe that this region needs to move as one," he added.
While speaking during a radio interview at the Mbale State Lodge on Sunday, November 8, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned of future wars in the East African Community over access to the Indian Ocean.
He argued that Uganda is entitled to access the Indian Ocean for its economic development and strategic defence.
Museveni said it was 'madness' for countries to block landlocked nations from accessing the ocean.
"In Uganda, even if you want to build a navy, how can you build it? We don't have access to the sea. The political organization in Africa is so irrational. Some of the countries have no access to the sea, and you are stuck.
“How do I export my products? That is why we have had endless discussions with Kenya. This one stops, another comes. But that ocean belongs to me; I am entitled to that ocean. In the future, we are going to have wars," he stated.
