Museveni clarifies Indian Ocean access remarks after sparking regional debate

KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has clarified recent comments suggesting his landlocked country is entitled to access the Indian Ocean, remarks that stirred public debate in Kenya and across East Africa.

Speaking to Uganda’s national broadcaster on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, Museveni said his earlier statements were rooted in the push for a political federation within the East African Community. Such a federation, he said, would go beyond the current customs union and common market to integrate political, economic, and military decision-making.

“The issue of strategic security is why I talked about the Indian Ocean,” Museveni said. “Even if we are together in the EAC, we don’t plan defense together. Every member country has its own defense.” He added that some coastal nations lack the financial capacity to invest in naval or satellite capabilities, making a political federation crucial for shared security.

His clarification followed earlier remarks warning that Uganda, lacking a coastline, should have access to the Indian Ocean. In an interview on Nov. 11, he urged East African nations to unite economically to avoid future conflicts, saying the continent’s political boundaries were “irrational” and left some countries “stuck” without trade routes. “How do I export my products?” he asked.

Museveni said Uganda cannot build a navy or independently export goods because it depends heavily on neighboring countries, especially Kenya. He voiced frustration over ongoing negotiations on railways, pipelines, and other infrastructure, saying: “The ocean belongs to me because where is my ocean? I’m entitled to that ocean.”

While his comments prompted concern about regional stability and long-standing trade dynamics between Kenya and Uganda, they also triggered a wave of humorous online memes mocking his claim to a “missing ocean.”

GAROWE ONLINE