Uganda’s private sector leaders have reignited the long-standing national debate over the country’s access to the Indian Ocean, citing persistent transit disruptions, policy inconsistencies, and escalating regional risks that continue to hinder the smooth flow of Uganda’s imports and exports.
The Uganda Chamber of Commerce (UCC), working alongside the Entrepreneurs’ League and several business associations, has filed a formal petition to the Attorneys General of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The move marks a renewed push to secure Uganda’s legally protected right to ocean access, a matter that has resurfaced sharply after traders raised fresh concerns and President Yoweri Museveni urged Ugandans to rethink their dependence on neighbouring countries for maritime routes.
According to UCC officials, Uganda’s position is backed by a series of binding international and regional instruments that guarantee landlocked countries unhindered access to the sea. These include:
The 1965 Convention on Transit Trade of Landlocked States,
The 2006 amendment to the East African Community (EAC) Treaty,
The EAC Customs Union Protocol,
Key provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1992),
National transit laws in both Kenya and Tanzania.
UCC argues that despite these frameworks, neighbouring coastal states have occasionally violated or inconsistently applied provisions governing port access and transit rights—leading to port delays, congestion, sudden restrictions, and rising charges at Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.
Speaking to journalists in Kampala, Edison Ruyondo, the petition’s lead counsel, confirmed that the case has now been submitted to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ). The petition seeks a directive compelling Kenya and Tanzania to allocate Uganda land along the Indian Ocean for the construction of its own port facilities.
“Our prayer is simple: Uganda should be allocated land along the Indian Ocean. The legal provisions already exist. We need a permanent solution to the repeated transit challenges our business community faces,” Ruyondo stated.
He added that every time unrest or disruptions occur in neighbouring countries, Uganda’s traders suffer disproportionately, making reliable transit infrastructure urgent and unavoidable.
UCC President Kalim Kalamaji said the push gained momentum after President Museveni recently reminded Ugandans that international law guarantees the country’s freedom of transit to the ocean.
“After the President’s remarks, the business community realised this is a crucial issue requiring immediate action,” he said.
Kalamaji noted the private sector’s disappointment that Kenyan President William Ruto, during his recent visit to Uganda, did not conclusively address the matter, despite high expectations from business leaders.
Speaking during his visit, President Ruto dismissed rumours of strained ties as “negative propaganda,” insisting Uganda already has operational access to the sea.
“I know people in the media space… and it is good I clarify: Uganda has always had access to the sea,” he said, reaffirming strong bilateral relations between the two nations.
Museveni, on his part, has maintained that Uganda’s rights under international law remain intact and must be safeguarded.
UCC’s Acting Secretary General Moses Opolot stressed that Uganda’s struggle for seamless ocean access is not new.
“Since independence, Uganda has struggled with restricted access to the ocean, making imports and exports more expensive. Enough is enough,” he said, adding that the EAC has clear mechanisms—including the regional court—to resolve such disputes.
With the petition now before the EACJ, Uganda’s private sector hopes for a long-term solution that will protect trade flows, reduce costs, and strengthen national economic resilience.
