During the 25th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) held in Arusha, Tanzania, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda was formally handed the leadership baton of the regional bloc.
The transfer of leadership took place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, with outgoing chair President William Ruto of Kenya officially handing over the chairmanship. Ruto had served as EAC chair for the past year, succeeding Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan. The leadership will next pass to Rwanda following Museveni’s tenure.
The summit also witnessed changes at the Secretariat level. Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi of Tanzania was appointed Secretary-General of the EAC, replacing Veronica Nduva of Kenya, who had held the position since June 2024.
In his address to summit participants, President Museveni emphasized the need for regional unity and productive collaboration among member states. He cautioned against repeating past mistakes, where leaders focused on conflicts at the expense of industrial growth and economic development.
Museveni stressed that fostering greater productivity is key to regional prosperity. “When production is high, and there are more customers, this benefits those who invest in development,” he said, highlighting the importance of increasing industrial output and trade within the EAC.
He also underlined the importance of security across member states, describing it as a cornerstone of regional stability. According to Museveni, anyone who undermines the security of EAC countries is effectively betraying the continent.
The leadership handover marks a symbolic and strategic moment for the EAC, reaffirming its commitment to integration, economic growth, and collective security in East Africa.
