President Museveni Welcomes four new Envoys, Emphasises Stronger East African Common Market

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reported that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni used a credentials ceremony at State House, Entebbe, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, to urge stronger implementation of the East African Common Market. The event formally accredited four incoming heads of mission to Uganda: Kenya’s High Commissioner-designate Ababu Namwamba, South Korea’s Ambassador-designate Sangho Lee, Tanzania’s High Commissioner-designate Maj. Gen. Marco Elisha Gaguti, and Namibia’s High Commissioner-designate Gabriel Pandureni Sinimbo.

According to the report, Museveni told the Kenyan envoy that tariffs, restrictions and other protectionist measures between regional partners weaken integration and reduce the benefits of a larger market for consumers and businesses. He pointed to Uganda’s decision not to block cheaper rice from Tanzania despite pressure from local farmers, saying such a ban would harm Tanzanian producers, raise costs for Ugandan buyers, reduce pressure on domestic producers to improve, and undermine the common market principle.

Namwamba, who previously served as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, conveyed greetings from President William Ruto and said commercial diplomacy would be a priority during his posting. Watchdog Uganda reported that he backed freer movement of goods between Uganda and Kenya and referenced his family ties to Uganda, including links to Jinja, Mengo and the Busia border area.

The report also said South Korea’s Sangho Lee pledged to build bilateral cooperation, while Tanzania’s Gaguti and Namibia’s Sinimbo committed to strengthening ties with Uganda. The ceremony was attended by Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Haruna Kasolo and other officials. The presentation of letters of credence is the formal step that allows envoys to begin representing their governments in a host country.