President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially assumed the chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) Summit, succeeding outgoing Chairperson William Ruto of Kenya at the conclusion of the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State held at the Arusha International Conference Centre in Tanzania.
During the summit, regional leaders approved the appointment of Tanzanian Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi as the new Secretary General of the EAC.
In his remarks as incoming chairperson, President Museveni thanked fellow leaders for entrusting him with guiding the Community over the next year and conveyed greetings from the people of Uganda.
He described East Africa as standing at a critical juncture in its history and urged leaders and citizens to remain focused on what he termed the historic mission of Africa’s transformation.
Museveni reflected on the challenge of “Okukonesa” — a local metaphor for food that fails to cook properly due to insufficient heat and time — warning that Africa must avoid repeating historical mistakes that led to colonisation and underdevelopment.
He attributed past setbacks to weak leadership, disunity, and failure to embrace scientific and technological advancement.
By around 1900, he noted, nearly the entire continent had fallen under colonial rule due to divisions among African societies and inadequate strategic responses to foreign expansion.
The President outlined the historic mission of the African liberation struggle as centred on four key objectives: liberation, modernisation, prosperity, and strategic security.
He said the guiding principle remains “Uhuru na Umoja” — freedom and unity.
Economic Integration as Path to Prosperity
Museveni stressed that while many African countries achieved political independence, the task of building unity remains incomplete.
He emphasised that economic integration is essential for prosperity, noting that production alone cannot generate wealth without access to large markets.
He observed that Africa’s combined Gross Domestic Product remains relatively small compared to major global economies, partly due to fragmented markets that limit industrialisation and economic transformation.
Drawing lessons from countries such as China, India, and South Korea, Museveni said large internal markets are critical for sustained growth. He called on the region — particularly the youth — to focus on building productive economies, strengthening regional integration, and avoiding distractions from long-term development goals.
Security and Regional Cooperation
The President highlighted the importance of strategic security, noting that modern states must defend themselves across land, air, sea, and space while collaborating to maintain regional stability.
Museveni paid tribute to historic African leaders who championed liberation and unity, including Julius Nyerere, Abeid Amani Karume, Kwame Nkrumah, Ahmed Sékou Touré, and Modibo Keïta, noting their vision for African unity remains relevant today.
He commended Tanzania for its historic role in advancing regional integration and supporting liberation movements across Africa.
Key Summit Outcomes
Leaders witnessed the swearing-in of judges appointed to the East African Court of Justice.
The summit launched the 7th EAC Development Strategy (2026/27–2030/31), aligned with EAC Vision 2050, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The strategy outlines priorities for accelerating regional integration and socioeconomic transformation over the next five years.
The gathering also unveiled the EAC Customs Bond, a new initiative designed to facilitate trade by simplifying customs procedures and reducing border delays.
Regional youth excellence was recognised through the awarding of winners of the 2024 EAC Essay Writing Competition.
The summit concluded with the presentation of the official communiqué by the EAC Secretary General outlining key resolutions adopted by the Heads of State.
Under Museveni’s chairmanship, the East African Community is expected to deepen regional integration, strengthen economic cooperation, and advance the collective prosperity and security of its more than 300 million citizens.