Museveni Renews Push For East African Political Federation

Kampala, August 11, 2026 - President Yoweri Museveni has renewed his call for an East African political federation, putting a long-running regional ambition back into Uganda's political and economic debate.

The proposal sits within the broader East African Community integration agenda, but it raises questions over sequencing: whether political federation should be accelerated ahead of other treaty pillars, including monetary integration and deeper trade facilitation.

Museveni linked the case for integration to both economic and security considerations. Uganda is projecting growth of 6.4 percent in the current financial year and 10 percent in the next, and advocates of deeper integration argue that a single regional currency could reduce exchange costs, support trade and strengthen economic stability.

The president also tied the federation debate to the instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that durable peace in the Great Lakes region remains difficult while eastern Congo remains unsettled. For investors, the renewed push signals Kampala's continued preference for regional-scale solutions to markets, infrastructure and security risks.