DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Uganda and Tanzania agreed to strengthen ties in energy development, trade and regional peace following high-level talks held Sunday in Dar es Salaam.
The initiatives were announced during a joint press briefing by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan after bilateral discussions between the two nations.
Hassan said the leaders reviewed progress on major energy infrastructure, including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. She noted the project is on track and oil transportation is expected to begin in July.
The cooperation also includes plans for a gas pipeline from Tanzania to Uganda and a refined oil pipeline from Uganda to the Tanzanian port of Tanga. Hassan said these projects position Tanzania as a primary export corridor for Ugandan petroleum.
On trade and logistics, Hassan said the nations are focused on improving access for Ugandan traders to the ports of Tanga and Dar es Salaam. Tanzania was also requested to extend its railway connectivity further into Uganda to reduce cargo transportation costs.
The Tanzanian leader emphasized the need to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers. She said both sides agreed to work toward their removal to boost economic growth and strengthen the East African regional market.
Regarding regional security, Hassan said the countries discussed strategies to promote stability in the Great Lakes Region, including shared plans to initiate dialogue to resolve local conflicts.
Hassan welcomed Museveni to Tanzania and congratulated him and the National Resistance Movement on their recent electoral victory.
Museveni said Africa’s independence must be protected through economic prosperity. He noted that modern liberation comes from producing goods and services and selling them competitively to generate income for citizens.
The Ugandan leader also highlighted industrial specialization, noting that Tanzania will take the lead in locomotive manufacturing while Uganda focuses on textile production.
Museveni said that while global powers may exert pressure on African states, the continent’s response depends on its internal unity and economic resilience.
The two heads of state reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations for the benefit of the wider East African region.
