President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has again stirred regional tensions this time by forcefully declaring that his landlocked country deserves access to the Indian Ocean. During a radio address in Mbale, he warned that denying Uganda this access could spark future wars. According to him, economic growth and national security both demand a sea route. Others, however, respond with ridicule, legal caution, or outright skepticism.
Museveni framed his argument with a striking metaphor. He likened East Africa to a block of flats: “How can you say that you are in a block of flats and the compound belongs only to the ground floor?” he asked. To him, Uganda (on the “top floor”) ought to have the same “compound” meaning access to shared maritime space as its coastal neighbors. “That ocean belongs to me,” he insisted. “My ocean is the Indian Ocean … I am entitled to that ocean.”
He has also made the stakes clear. Without a coastline, he says, Uganda cannot build a navy, leaving the country stuck both in trade and in defense. “Some countries have no access to the sea,” he argued, “not only for economic purposes but also for defence purposes … You are stuck. How do I export my products?”
Why Now?
According to Museveni, his frustration is decades in the making. He claims he’s been negotiating for sea access for 30 years with Kenyan leaders. But each time Kenya elects a new president, he says, the discussions restart from zero. He believes that without a permanent, legally binding agreement, his country’s strategic vision will always be undercut by changing governments.
To prevent conflict, he is calling for deeper political and economic integration in East Africa, especially through the East African Community (EAC). He argues that unity, not division, is the way forward not just for Uganda’s trade, but for its security.
Mixed Reactions: From Laughter to Diplomatic Calm
Museveni’s bold claims have triggered a spectrum of reactions:
Kenyan Humor: In Kenya, many citizens responded with mockery. Social media has been flooded with memes, jokes, and sarcastic commentary. Some suggested that Kenya could deploy its National Youth Service (NYS) to “defend” the coast.
Government Response: The Kenyan government, however, has downplayed the threat. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei called Museveni’s words more metaphorical than literal and insisted Kenya respects its sovereign territory.
Military Diplomacy: In a telling move, a delegation from the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) recently visited Kenya for a “benchmarking” exercise touring Kenyan military facilities and welfare programs. This raised eyebrows, given Museveni’s warning, but Kenya framed it as a normal cooperation visit.
Analysts’ Skepticism: Strategic analysts have raised serious questions. Several point out that Uganda currently lacks a navy or any meaningful maritime capacity. Some even challenge Uganda’s legal basis for such a claim, saying the “right” Museveni claims does not hold under current international maritime law.
Kenya’s Official Reassurance.
To calm nerves, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, reaffirmed Nairobi’s support for landlocked neighbors using its ports. He reminded the region that international law recognizes the special transit needs of landlocked states and that Kenya would not block access. Still, Mudavadi stopped short of promising a permanent, sovereign corridor or a Kenyan concession of coastal territory.
The Bigger Picture
Museveni’s remarks are a reminder of a larger, long-running challenge in Africa: how to balance sovereignty with regional interdependence. For Uganda, it’s not just about shipping goods it’s also about strategic power, regional influence, and long-term survival. For Kenya, there’s a risk: accede too much, and it might give up leverage; resist too strongly, and it could fuel instability.
At the center of this issue lies a critical question: In a globalized world, can landlocked nations ever be fully independent in their trade and security ambitions or must they always rely on the goodwill and cooperation of their neighbors? Museveni’s dramatic rhetoric may be as much about pressuring for change as it is about making a practical demand.