**BREAKING: Uganda, Kenya Leaders Hold Closed-Door Talks to Ease Tensions After Museveni’s Indian Ocean Remarks**
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed a high-level meeting with Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in Mayuge, aimed at reinforcing cooperation and easing rising diplomatic tensions. The closed-door discussions, held this week at Mayuge State Lodge, focused on bilateral relations, regional stability, and cross-border initiatives.
The meeting follows Museveni’s recent public comments questioning Kenya’s exclusive claim to its Indian Ocean coastline, which sparked controversy and prompted calls for reassurance from Nairobi.
In a parallel development, Mudavadi addressed Kenya’s National Assembly, urging lawmakers to view Museveni’s remarks in context. He reassured MPs that the longstanding ties between Uganda and Kenya remained strong, and emphasized Kenya’s commitment to providing secure trade corridors for landlocked nations, including Uganda.
“We are not going to war,” Mudavadi stressed, reaffirming Kenya’s dedication to fulfilling its international obligations and ensuring continued regional cooperation.
The diplomatic concerns were triggered by Museveni’s speech on November 8, 2025, where he questioned Uganda’s reliance on Kenya for sea access and highlighted ongoing transport infrastructure disputes, including issues related to the Standard Gauge Railway and the crude oil pipeline.
The Mayuge meeting is seen as a strategic effort by both governments to maintain regional stability, safeguard economic cooperation, and prevent tensions from affecting key regional projects. It also underscores the enduring partnership between Uganda and Kenya, critical to the integration of East Africa.
