President Ruto Agrees to Give Uganda Access to the Indian Ocean

President William Ruto has confirmed that Uganda will be granted access to the Indian Ocean through Kenya, marking one of the biggest regional cooperation steps in recent years.

Ruto announced Tororo, Uganda, during the launch of the Devki Steel Plant.

He assured Ugandans that Kenya will support their long-standing need for reliable sea access.

“I want to assure our brothers in Uganda that they have access to the sea through Kenya,” Ruto said.

“We will open our infrastructure so that business between our two nations can grow.”

President William Ruto has confirmed that Uganda will now access the Indian Ocean through Kenya.
A major shift in regional cooperation and a move already stirring mixed reactions.

The President said Kenya will expand key transport corridors.

This includes new and upgraded roads, an extended railway, and improved pipeline routes linking Uganda directly to the Kenyan coast.

He added that the two countries must strengthen economic ties rather than escalate tensions.

“We are brothers and sisters. There can be no conflict between Kenya and Uganda. The future is cooperation,” Ruto stated.

The announcement comes after months of intense debate following President Yoweri Museveni’s comments about Uganda’s “right to the Indian Ocean.” His remarks sparked public discussions in both countries, especially on sovereignty, regional trade, and security.

Economists say the new arrangement could increase regional trade, lower transport costs for Uganda, and boost revenues at Kenyan ports.

Analysts also predict faster progress on the proposed Standard Gauge Railway extension toward Kisumu and Malaba.

However, the move has triggered mixed reactions at home. Some Kenyans support deeper East African integration, while others question the long-term implications of giving a landlocked country access to strategic coastal infrastructure.

Still, Ruto insisted that cooperation is the only way forward for the region.

“East Africa must grow together. No country can prosper alone,” he said.

The deal signals a stronger partnership between Nairobi and Kampala and could reshape trade dynamics in the region for years to come.

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