Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been elected as the new Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC) Summit of Heads of State, taking over from Kenya’s President William Ruto.
The leadership handover was confirmed during the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State on Saturday in Arusha, Tanzania.
Museveni will serve a one-year term from March 2026 to March 2027, stepping into the role at a time when the regional bloc is grappling with pressing financial and security issues.
The EAC, which brings together Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Somalia, is facing a growing financial shortfall.
Member states including the DRC, Burundi, South Sudan, and Somalia have fallen behind on their statutory contributions, leaving the bloc with an estimated $89 million in arrears and hampering its ability to pay salaries and cover essential operations.
Security remains another key concern for the incoming chair.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC continues to pose risks to regional stability, prompting the EAC to seek support from the African Union in efforts to restore peace.
As chairperson, Museveni will be responsible for steering the bloc through these financial and security challenges while continuing to promote deeper regional integration and cooperation among the member states.