TORORO, Uganda — President William Ruto has moved to quell rising speculation over tensions between Kenya and Uganda, dismissing reports that Kampala was preparing for war to secure access to the Indian Ocean.
Speaking on Sunday during the groundbreaking of the Devki Steel Factory in Osukuru, Tororo District, Ruto criticised what he described as sensational media reports suggesting Uganda was considering “any means” to access the coastline.
“I know people in the journalist space try to create an impression that Uganda had said something to the effect that they need to access the sea by any means,” he said. “Let me assure the naysayers that Uganda and Kenya are brothers and sisters.”
The remarks follow widespread online claims earlier in November alleging President Yoweri Museveni had threatened to wage war against East African coastal states to secure sea access.
The reports further suggested that Uganda’s ambitions to build a navy were being frustrated by its landlocked status.
Ruto made it clear that there was no animosity between the two nations, emphasising that Kenya remained fully committed to providing Uganda with unhindered access to the coast for trade and logistics.
“Uganda is assured of access to the sea through Kenya, and that is why we are not only extending the pipeline — we are also extending the road and the railway,” he said. “Kenya and Uganda are brothers and sisters, and we do not have time for negative engagement.”
The President underscored ongoing infrastructural collaborations between the two countries, noting that such partnerships will only deepen as the region advances shared economic goals.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has also distanced himself from earlier interpretations of his statements, which had sparked the controversy. Museveni said his comments were rooted in advocacy for a stronger, politically integrated East African Community (EAC), not aggression.
He argued that a political federation would extend beyond the current customs union to harmonize security, economic, and governance decisions, including shared responsibility for military assets, such as a naval force.
During the same engagement in Tororo, Ruto revealed that Kenya and Uganda will jointly own shares in the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) once the state completes its privatisation exercise.
The announcement signals closer economic alignment between the two countries and follows years of negotiations around petroleum logistics, pipeline extensions, and regional supply security.
The reaffirmation of Kenya–Uganda ties comes at a time when the EAC continues to grapple with questions of deeper political federation, cross-border infrastructure gaps, and overlapping security interests.
Both governments have recently taken steps to assure investors and citizens of stability, emphasising diplomacy and shared development.
Ruto’s remarks underline Nairobi’s longstanding position that Uganda’s access to the Indian Ocean — a lifeline for 90pc of its imports — is guaranteed through Kenyan ports and transport corridors.
