President Ruto Agrees to Give Uganda Access to the Indian Ocean

President William Ruto has broken the silence over Uganda’s President Museveni’s threat to capture the Indian Ocean.

Speaking in Tororo, Uganda, during the groundbreaking event for the Devki mega steel project, President Willian Ruto assured Uganda that they have access to the Indian Ocean through Kenya. 

“Uganda and Kenya are brothers and sisters and have no time for negative engagement. Uganda is assured of access to the sea through Kenya,” said President William Ruto.

The access to the sea will be facilitated by extending the pipeline, roads, and the railway in the region.

Uganda’s President Eyes Indian Ocean

In a previous interview, the Ugandan President sparked reactions after his remarks stating that his landlocked country has a right to access the Indian Ocean.

He criticized Africa’s existing political borders, describing them as irrational and restrictive for trade and security.

“How can you say that you are in a block of flats and that the compound belongs to only the flats on the ground floor? The compound belongs to the whole block. All the flats are entitled to the compound,” Museveni said.

The long-serving Ugandan leader argued that it is unreasonable for only coastal countries to have access to the ocean while landlocked nations like Uganda are left isolated.

“My ocean is the Indian Ocean. It really belongs to me. I’m on the top floor of the block, and then you say the compound belongs only to the ones on the ground floor,” he said.

Museveni Praises Ruto

In his speech during the ceremony, Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni praised President Ruto saying he is the real Pan Africanist and active than other Kenyan leaders in implementation. “I want to salute his excellency Ruto, he is the real pan Africanist.” Museveni said.

Since President William Ruto assumed office in 2022, his relationship with Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni has steadily evolved into cooperation. The two leaders have signed multiple bilateral agreements covering key areas such as trade, infrastructure development and transport. These agreements also include commitments to improve cross-border movement, expand railway and road connectivity, and promote joint economic initiatives to boost trade in the region.