Kenya and Uganda have reaffirmed their commitment towards the implementation of bilateral relations as directed by the presidents of the two countries in a bid to achieve shared prosperity, integration and mutual understanding.
This was ascertained during a three-day Kenya-Uganda delegates meeting of the Mid Term Review of the Second Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) held in Nairobi.
The meeting was Co-Chaired by the Principal Secretary, State Department of Foreign Affairs Dr Korir Singoei and his counterpart Mr Vincent Bagiire, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, aimed at taking stock of the strides made after the presidential directives to unlock the gridlocks in the cooperation between the two countries.
The presidential directives were made during the signing of an eight-point new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 30th July 2025 at State House, Nairobi, aimed at building strong bilateral ties and bolstering development between the two countries.
President William Ruto and Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni inked the MOU, whose key focus areas are transport, trade, mining, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, the greater Busia metro project, quality assurance, and collaboration between the Kenya Bureau of Standards and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards to improve product standards and ease trade.
Other subset areas include peace and security, immigration, joint border control, cultural exchange, deepening trade and customs integration, elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTBs), and streamlining border procedures in order to reduce time used to cross the border.
The MOU also included extension of the standard gauge railway to Malaba and the removal of quotas and duties on goods originating from within the two countries, such as poultry and poultry products, dairy and dairy products, sugar, juices, pishori rice and furniture.
PS Singoei, while Co-chairing the MTR Session reiterated that the strategic partnerships between the two countries represent the aspirations of millions of people by advancing the African continental agenda of the Africa we want.
“This session serves to inject fresh impetus to the implementation of presidential directives as guided in the joint communique of May 2024 and July The review is a reflection of our shared commitment to accountability, results and mutual benefit for our great countries,” stated PS Singoei.
The PS reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to cooperating with Uganda towards more effective partnerships that drive the economic development that benefits the two countries.
His counterpart and Co- Chair Mr Bagiire, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, said the MTR aims at achieving the finalisation of bilateral instruments in immigration, labour and anti-trafficking drug control, illicit arm trade and police cooperation to be signed at an agreed ministerial engagement.
“I congratulate the technical committee for the strides made towards the implementation of the presidential directives for socio-economic transformation and mutual prosperity for our two countries,” said Bagiire.
In a joint communique, the meeting commended the contribution of both countries towards advancing peace and security in the region despite mounting challenges and ever-evolving threats.
It also reaffirmed the strong ties between the Republics of Kenya and Uganda and pledged to enhance cooperation and strengthen regional institutions, including the customs union, common market and currency.
The need for peaceful coexistence among border communities was also emphasised by both countries.
The ministers of trade from the two countries are expected to meet on August 29 and 30 in Uganda to discuss, among other issues, the unresolved NTBs that continue to stifle trade between the two countries ahead of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in October 2025.
By Bethsheba Abuya
