Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni cleared the air on his comments on the country’s claim to the coastal access of the Indian Ocean, which sparked debate across Kenya.

Speaking to the Ugandan national broadcaster on Friday, November 21, 2025, the president stated that his statement was anchored on the establishment of a political federation aimed at deepening political, economic, and military integration beyond the current EAC customs union and common market.

“The issue of strategic security is why I talked about the Indian Ocean. Even if we are together in EAC, we don’t plan defense together. Every member country has its own defence,” he stated.

Watch: Museveni says Uganda entitled to Kenya’s Indian Ocean

“Some countries in the world are superior in air force, navy (why, I talked about the Indian Ocean), and satellite, but the East African countries near the shores may not have the financial capacity. That is where political federation comes in,” he stated.

His remarks follow after he issued a warning to Kenya, saying his landlocked country is entitled to access the Indian Ocean.

Averting future conflicts

In an interview on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, he urged East African nations to unite economically to prevent future conflicts.

“The political organisation in Africa is so irrational. Some of the countries have no access to the sea. For economic purposes, but also for defence purposes, you are stuck. How do I export my products?” he stated.

Museveni said Uganda cannot build a navy or independently export its products because it has no coastline.

“That’s why I say, you people, why don’t you see how to unite? Because in Uganda, even if you wanted to build a navy, how could you build it? We don’t have access to the sea,” Museveni said.

Dependence on neighbours

Museveni expressed frustration over Uganda’s reliance on neighbouring countries, particularly Kenya, for trade infrastructure.

“That’s why we have endless discussions with Kenya, then this one, this one stopped, and then another one comes, and then… The railway, the pipeline, the water – we discuss. But that ocean belongs to me because where is my ocean? I’m entitled to that ocean,” he said.

While his remarks raised potential concerns about East Africa’s stability and long-standing territorial and trade dynamics between the two neighbours, it left netizens mocking the assertions with viral memes on the internet.