Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called on East African countries to form a federal union with a joint military force, warning against repeating the “Libya fate” when foreign military intervention occurred in 2011 without an effective regional response.
During a radio interview at the State House in Mayuge, Museveni proposed integrating the armed forces of regional countries—including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, and the DRC—to create a force capable of preventing foreign intervention and enhancing regional security.
His comments come amid controversy over his previous references to a “sovereign right in the Indian Ocean” and the possibility of a “war” with Kenya over port access. He later clarified that his remarks aimed to stress political and military integration, not to issue threats.
Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi met with Museveni to ease tensions, while Nairobi confirmed continued cooperation within the East African Community. Reactions to Museveni’s call have been mixed, with some Kenyan voices describing it as “bold,” while others warned of the risks, especially given ongoing border disputes and accusations that Uganda seeks to assert influence in the region.