Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, has been chosen as the new Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC) Summit of Heads of State.
He takes over the rotating leadership role from Kenya’s President, William Ruto, who had been serving in the position since November 2024.
The announcement was made during the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State held in Arusha on Saturday.
The East African Community currently has eight member countries: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Somalia.
Museveni will lead the regional bloc for one year, from March 2026 to March 2027. His leadership comes at a difficult time for the organisation, which is dealing with financial pressure and ongoing security concerns.
One of the major issues facing the EAC is unpaid contributions from some member states. The total debt owed to the bloc is estimated to be close to 89 million dollars. Countries such as the DRC, Burundi, South Sudan, and Somalia are among those that have fallen behind on payments, creating challenges for the organisation in funding its operations and paying staff.
Security issues are also a big concern, particularly the continuing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The EAC has been working with the African Union to find ways to help restore peace and stability in the region.
As the new chairperson, Museveni is expected to help steer the organisation through these challenges while continuing efforts to strengthen cooperation and integration among member countries.
