Kenyan President William Ruto has stepped forward to ease the growing regional debate sparked by President Yoweri Museveni’s recent comments on Uganda’s “entitlement” to the Indian Ocean. Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony of the Devki Mega Steel Factory in Tororo, Ruto made it clear that Uganda and Kenya remain close partners focused on trade, development and regional integration, not territorial disputes.
Ruto firmly dismissed suggestions that Museveni’s statements hinted at a claim to coastal land, saying that the real message had been misunderstood and blown out of proportion. He noted that Uganda already enjoys full and uninterrupted access to the Indian Ocean through Kenya, and both countries are actively upgrading the transport and trade routes that connect Uganda to the port of Mombasa. He criticised the online frenzy, which generated countless memes, as a distraction from the major development goals the region is trying to achieve. According to Ruto, the two nations are strengthening the oil pipeline, expanding major highways and fast-tracking the Standard Gauge Railway to support smoother trade and economic growth across East Africa.
The Kenyan leader urged critics to avoid negative narratives and instead focus on progress, job creation and investment. He highlighted that poverty is a shared regional challenge that can only be solved through cooperation, not division. He also underlined the importance of the Devki Mega Steel Factory, explaining that Kenya currently imports steel worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually. With this new plant in Tororo, East Africa stands to retain a huge portion of that money, boosting local industries and creating thousands of jobs. Ruto added that Uganda’s rich iron ore deposits make the project strategically important for the entire region, not just for Uganda alone.
Museveni himself has clarified that his earlier remarks were symbolic, aimed at encouraging East African unity and the long-term goal of a political federation. He stressed that the region needs shared defence and economic strategies to compete globally and safeguard its future. After Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary travelled to Kampala for consultations, the Ugandan leader reaffirmed his respect for international borders and Kenya’s crucial role in granting Uganda access to global trade routes.
The launch of the Devki Mega Steel Factory marks a major milestone for East Africa’s industrial sector. Developed by Kenya’s Devki Group, the plant is expected to supply steel for infrastructure, construction, mining and energy projects across the region. By appearing together shortly after the heated online debate, Museveni and Ruto signaled a united front and shifted attention back to development, cooperation and regional prosperity.