National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has lifted the lid on a crucial closed-door meeting he held with Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a sit-down that touched the very nerve of Kenya–Uganda relations — from Lake Victoria tensions to the politically charged debate over Uganda’s access to the Indian Ocean.
Wetang’ula revealed on Monday, December 8, that the meeting took place during a courtesy call by the East African Community (EAC) Bureau of Speakers to the Ugandan military chief. What began as a routine regional engagement quickly morphed into a candid discussion about longstanding cross-border grievances.
The Speaker disclosed that he used the rare one-on-one session with Muhoozi to raise the hot-button issue of equitable sharing of Lake Victoria’s resources, a matter that has repeatedly sparked friction between Nairobi and Kampala.
“I highlighted the importance of equitable sharing of the common resources of Lake Victoria,” Wetang’ula said.
He went further, confronting Uganda over the persistent harassment of Kenyan fishermen around the contested Migingo Island — an issue that has strained relations for over a decade.
According to Wetang’ula, Gen. Muhoozi acknowledged the problem, opening a window for deeper cooperation.
“We emphasized the necessity for both countries to collaborate in developing a common security architecture for the lake… one that safeguards the ecosystem, environment, and shared resources,” the Speaker added.
Muhoozi is also said to have praised the EAC Parliamentary Games, calling them an important avenue for strengthening unity across the region.
The meeting comes at a politically sensitive moment, just weeks after President William Ruto dismissed growing speculation that Uganda was considering drastic ways to access the Indian Ocean.
Speaking on November 23, Ruto defended the Kenya–Uganda partnership, faulting sensational media reports for inflaming the debate.
“People in the journalism space tried to create an impression that Uganda said they need access to the sea by all means… Let me assure you, Uganda and Kenya are brothers and sisters,” Ruto said.
He emphasized that Uganda’s use of Kenya’s port infrastructure is not under threat, noting ongoing joint investments in the pipeline, railway, and road networks that cement regional integration.
But the controversy was reignited earlier in November when Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in a candid radio interview, warned that future wars in the EAC could be triggered by disputes over access to the Indian Ocean.
He argued that it is “irrational” for African nations to remain landlocked in a continent whose artificial colonial borders continue to restrict strategic access.
“The ocean belongs to me; I am entitled to that ocean… In the future, we are going to have wars,” Museveni said, calling it “madness” for landlocked nations to be denied direct sea routes.
Although State House Nairobi downplayed the remarks, they stirred anxiety across the region and sparked intense debate on sovereignty, trade corridors, and the evolving geopolitics of the EAC.
The Wetang’ula–Muhoozi conversation is being viewed as a key confidence-building step at a time when:
Fishermen around Migingo and Ugingo continue to report intimidation
Uganda’s statements on sea access have raised diplomatic eyebrows
Regional infrastructure projects remain politically delicate
The EAC is grappling with expanding membership and shifting power dynamics
With Wetang’ula pushing for a unified Lake Victoria security framework and Muhoozi acknowledging the contentious issues, observers say the meeting may help cool tempers — at least for now.
Lake Victoria, shared by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, is not merely a water body — it is a source of livelihood, food, security, and national pride. Any friction over its use or control has historically triggered political tensions.
Add to that Uganda’s renewed insistence on guaranteed maritime access, and the region finds itself navigating a geopolitical moment filled with both opportunity and risk.
For now, the diplomatic ball is rolling — and the Wetang’ula–Muhoozi engagement may prove to be the quiet turning point in a stormy season for East African relations.
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