Kenya's ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Uganda’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote political cooperation.
The two parties led by UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar and his NRM counterpart Richard Todwong, entered the Saturday agreement after days of dialogue that centered on how to forge cordial relations.
The Ugandan team, arrived in Nairobi earlier this week, for a four-day official visit as part of a programme to strengthen ties with President William Ruto’s UDA.
The two parties reached a consensus on six key areas, including legislative collaboration, economic empowerment, social harmony, and upholding the rule of law.
The agreement followed high-level talks held at UDA headquarters, Hustler Plaza, in Nairobi on Saturday.
In a joint communiqué signed by UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan and his NRM counterpart Richard Todwong, the two parties committed to aligning positions on regional and global issues, advocating for a harmonized foreign policy that safeguards national interests while embracing strategic international partnerships.
“Both parties agreed to pursue a coordinated approach to foreign policy, safeguarding national interests while fostering international partnerships, which we consider key priorities of our nationhood,” the communiqué read.
“Recognizing the profound challenges and opportunities facing our countries, the two parties reaffirmed their dedication to unity, stability, and democratic governance,” they added.
Discussions were anchored in what was described as a “spirit of solidarity and shared commitment” to the prosperity and stability of both nations.
Among the highlights was a joint pledge to promote good governance through transparency, accountability, and the strengthening of democratic institutions—core principles seen as critical to restoring public trust.
The Kampala's delegation Nairobi visit is a reciprocal gesture following a UDA delegation’s tour to Uganda in February, which was headed by Omar.
One of the key items on the agenda is exploring how the NRM’s Leadership Institute can support UDA in establishing its own Leadership Academy, an initiative currently underway within the party.
Omar, during the Kampala visit, said President William Ruto's party was interested in further developing its relations with President Yoweri Museveni's NRM and understanding its strategies on how they have managed to consolidate their stay in leadership for close to four decades.
"We came here on a mission to search for knowledge, ideas, and share experiences on how we can move forward as brothers in Uganda and Kenya and progressively towards the realisation of the East African Federation. These two sister countries can never be separated no matter the problems they have between them because we share many similarities." Omar said.
