Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and Uganda have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic cooperation following wide-ranging bilateral talks between President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Ugandan counterpart, Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, during his one-day working visit to the country.
In a statement issued by the Tanzanian State House on February 7, 2026, the two leaders held extensive discussions covering political, economic and security cooperation, with particular emphasis on accelerating the implementation of joint infrastructure and trade projects of regional significance.
At the centre of the talks was the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a flagship regional project linking Hoima in western Uganda to the port of Tanga in northern Tanzania.
The leaders reiterated their shared commitment to ensuring the timely completion of the pipeline, which is now more than three-quarters complete and is scheduled for full completion by July 2026.
They also underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in port services, particularly at the ports of Dar es Salaam and Tanga, to improve the efficiency of cargo handling and transit for Uganda and other landlocked countries in the region.
The discussions further covered the expansion of transport infrastructure, including rail, road and lake transport across Lake Victoria, aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and enhancing regional connectivity.
Trade featured prominently in the deliberations, with both sides acknowledging the steady growth in bilateral commerce.
Tanzania’s exports to Uganda reached $134.7 million in 2025, compared with Uganda’s exports to Tanzania valued at $88.2 million, underscoring the scale and potential of the trading relationship.
The two leaders agreed on the need to further remove non-tariff barriers, strengthen the business environment and promote private sector participation to unlock additional growth.
On regional and continental affairs, Presidents Samia and Museveni exchanged views on peace and security in the Great Lakes region, particularly the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
They reaffirmed their support for diplomatic initiatives and collective action through the East African Community and the African Union to promote stability and lasting peace.
President Samia congratulated President Museveni on his re-election and commended Uganda’s contribution to regional integration and peacekeeping efforts.
In turn, President Museveni praised Tanzania’s role in fostering economic transformation, regional solidarity and continental cooperation, and thanked the government for the warm reception accorded to him and his delegation.
The visit reaffirmed the enduring ties between Tanzania and Uganda, anchored in shared history, geography and common aspirations for prosperity, stability and deeper regional integration.
