Key Highlights
- 8th August 2015, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta arrives in Uganda for regional talks.
- The Kenyan President on a 3 day official visit in Uganda which began on Saturday. The president received 21-gun salute.
- Talks covering security, anti-terrorism and growing trade between two countries featured.
- Regional issues such as the situation in Burundi, the conflict in South Sudan and deployment of the IGAD force also discussed.
- The Host, President Yoweri Museveni held one-on-one talks with President Kenyatta focusing largely on growing investments and trade.
- Building of an oil pipeline from the Ugandan oil town of Hoima, through Lokichar to Lamu also discussed in length.
- 9th August 2015, (on Sunday morning) President Kenyatta visit to Quality Chemicals Factory Limited, the manufacturers of Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and malaria drugs in the capital, Kampala.
- Later, in the afternoon address of Uganda-Kenya Business Forum and Kenyan community resident in Uganda.
- The visiting Kenyan head of state will on Monday address a special sitting of Uganda’s parliament on various regional issues.
- Later on Monday, President Kenyatta, President Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn will meet under the auspices of IGAD to discuss the latest developments in South Sudan.
Summary
Two leaders agreed the building of the pipeline should commence without further delays.
. Kenyan exports to Uganda stand at just above $700 million compared to imports worth $180 million.
Uganda President projects that continued progress will in the coming years bridge the trade gap.
President Kenyatta stressed the importance of partnering together to achieve prosperity for citizenry of both countries.
President Kenyatta pointed out that Kenya cannot be stable and prosperous if its neighbours are facing challenges and that the two countries need to work closely with each other in sorting out challenges facing other countries within the region. Be it South Sudan, Somalia or Burundi, we have always taken a common position and a common stand in recognition that we need that stability to achieve the objectives that we have set for our people.
President Yoweri Museveni on his part said the two countries have continuously worked closely to ensure regional security and more so in tackling terrorism.
