A Statement That Triggered Regional Confusion.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has walked back comments suggesting Uganda was “entitled” to access the Indian Ocean, remarks that sparked debate in Kenya and raised questions about regional stability.
Speaking to the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation on Friday, Museveni said his earlier comments were misunderstood and were meant to highlight the limits facing landlocked states.
Museveni said his remarks focused on the need for stronger political and security cooperation within the East African Community (EAC). He argued that countries without coastlines face major disadvantages in defense and trade.
“The issue of strategic security is why I talked about the Indian Ocean,” he said. “Every member country has its own defence. We do not plan together.”
He added that a future political federation could give the region shared military planning and reduce each country’s economic vulnerabilities.
The clarification came after Museveni’s November 11 interview, where he said Uganda needed direct sea access for both trade and defense. “That ocean belongs to me because where is my ocean? I’m entitled to that ocean,” he said at the time.
The comments drew sharp reactions in Kenya. Analysts and officials questioned whether Museveni was suggesting territorial claims or expressing frustration with regional trade systems.
Kenya’s Foreign Ministry responded by affirming its commitment to international rules that allow landlocked nations access to ports—while stressing that these rights do not give any country ownership of coastal territory.
Museveni pointed to Uganda’s dependence on Kenya for pipelines, railways, and port access. He described frequent negotiations over these routes as exhausting and argued that deeper integration could reduce such disputes.
“In Uganda, even if you wanted to build a navy, how could you build it? We don’t have access to the sea,” he said.
The controversy generated a wave of memes and satire in Kenya, with social media users mocking the idea of Uganda claiming part of the Indian Ocean.
Despite the noise online, officials say Uganda–Kenya relations remain stable. Analysts note that Museveni often uses bold rhetoric to push his long-standing goal of an EAC political federation.
Whether his comments will renew talks on deeper integration—or simply highlight the sensitivity of regional access rights—remains uncertain.
