Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda, has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC), succeeding William Ruto of Kenya.
The leadership transition was announced on March 7, 2026 during the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State held at the Arusha International Conference Centre in Arusha, Tanzania. The position rotates among member states under the bloc’s governance system.
Museveni will serve a one-year term from March 2026 to March 2027, taking charge of the eight-member regional organization at a time when it faces mounting security challenges and financial pressures caused by unpaid member contributions and limited resources to support its programs.
In remarks during the handover ceremony, Ruto thanked fellow heads of state for their cooperation during Kenya’s tenure leading the regional bloc. He said the transition reflected the community’s commitment to orderly and structured leadership among partner states.
“As I hand over the chairmanship of the EAC summit, I take this opportunity to register my sincere appreciation to all members of the summit of the EAC heads of state and the cooperation extended to the Republic of Kenya and to me since November 30, 2024, when I assumed the position,” Ruto said.
Under Ruto’s leadership, the bloc discussed several reforms aimed at strengthening regional integration, including new financing mechanisms, institutional adjustments, and infrastructure initiatives designed to improve connectivity across member states.
As the new chair, Museveni is expected to guide efforts to deepen regional integration, strengthen economic cooperation, and improve security coordination across the community, which represents more than 300 million people in East Africa.
Recent discussions among member states have also focused on reforms intended to improve the bloc’s financial sustainability and governance structure, including changes to funding arrangements and voting procedures to reduce administrative delays.
Meanwhile, Rwanda will assume the role of rapporteur of the EAC, taking over from Somalia. The position traditionally precedes the rotating chairmanship, placing Rwanda in line to potentially lead the regional bloc in 2027.
