DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday arrived in the United Republic of Tanzania for a one-day official working visit aimed at reinforcing diplomatic ties, economic cooperation and regional integration between the two East African neighbours.
The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, according to a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications in Tanzania.
Officials described the engagement as part of ongoing efforts to deepen the long-standing relationship between the two countries, rooted in shared history, regional solidarity and growing economic interdependence.
During the visit, Presidents Museveni and Samia are expected to hold closed-door bilateral talks focusing on key areas of mutual interest, including trade, energy cooperation, infrastructure development and regional security.
The discussions will also review progress on existing joint initiatives and explore new avenues for collaboration amid shifting regional and global economic dynamics.
“I have arrived in the United Republic of Tanzania on a working visit at the invitation of H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan. We shall hold bilateral talks aimed at strengthening cooperation and deepening the long-standing relations between our two countries,” Museveni wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Energy cooperation high on agenda
Energy collaboration, particularly the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, is expected to feature prominently in the talks. The multi-billion-dollar regional infrastructure project is designed to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga for export.
Once operational, EACOP is expected to create thousands of jobs, attract foreign investment, enhance energy security and boost revenues for both countries.
However, the project has also attracted sustained scrutiny from environmental and human rights groups, making high-level political coordination critical as implementation advances.
Trade and regional integration
Uganda and Tanzania are founding members of the East African Community (EAC) and have consistently collaborated to promote regional trade, infrastructure connectivity and political stability.
Through the EAC framework, the two countries have aligned policies on customs, cross-border movement of goods and people, and investment facilitation.
Tanzania remains a vital transit corridor for Uganda’s imports and exports, particularly via the port of Dar es Salaam, complemented by improving road and rail infrastructure linking the two economies.
Also Read: From reformer to autocrat: How authoritarian regimes adapt — The case of Samia Suluhu
Bilateral trade has expanded steadily in recent years, supported by business forums, private sector engagement and joint efforts to reduce non-tariff barriers.
Beyond economics, the two nations maintain close political and diplomatic relations, marked by frequent high-level consultations and cooperation on peace and security initiatives in the Great Lakes Region and beyond.
Strong social and cultural ties, underpinned by migration, education exchanges and cross-border trade, continue to reinforce people-to-people relations.
The two leaders are expected to jointly address the media at the conclusion of their talks, outlining key
