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East African Leaders Weigh Museveni’s Call for Joint Military Federation

In a bold call for regional integration, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has proposed the formation of a unified military force for the East African Community (EAC), a move that has ignited a fierce debate over sovereignty, security, and the future of the bloc.

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Speaking at a regional summit on Tuesday, Museveni outlined a vision for a joint military structure comprising member states Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The proposed federation would aim to build collective air, naval, and satellite capabilities to counter what he described as external threats.

The veteran leader rooted his argument in hard-learned lessons from recent history. He pointed to the 2011 fall of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi following a NATO-led intervention as a cautionary tale of what happens when African nations lack a coordinated defense strategy.

“We have seen what happens when we are not strong enough to deter foreign interference,” Museveni stated. “A unified force is not an option; it is a necessity for our sovereignty and strategic autonomy.”

He also tied the proposal to Uganda’s specific logistical challenges, noting its status as a landlocked nation and the need for reliable sea access through a collective naval arm. The push for a military federation, he argued, aligns with the EAC’s long-held, yet largely unrealized, goal of achieving a full political union. Museveni cited existing security cooperation, such as the joint efforts against the Al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia, as proof of concept that deeper integration is both feasible and beneficial.

However, the ambitious proposal was met with immediate and significant pushback, particularly from citizens and observers in Kenya. On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the reaction was swift and critical.

A prominent concern among Kenyan users was the fear that such a force would be used not to defend nations, but to prop up incumbent leaders and suppress domestic opposition across the region.

“This isn’t about defending East Africans; it’s about creating a cross-border militia to protect regimes from their own people,” read one widely shared post, reflecting a deep-seated skepticism about the motives behind the plan.

Others questioned the strategic wisdom of pooling military resources with nations currently grappling with internal conflicts, such as the DRC and South Sudan, fearing it could entangle more stable members in neighboring crises.

Despite the skepticism, some commentators saw potential in the idea, but only under strict conditions. They argued that a military federation could be a powerful tool for regional stability if it were paired with robust democratic institutions and clear legal checks and balances.

“A joint force could be a game-changer for regional security, but it cannot come first. It must be built on a foundation of democracy, respect for human rights, and absolute civilian oversight,” argued a Nairobi-based political analyst in an online thread. “Otherwise, it becomes a tool of oppression, not protection.”

The mixed reaction highlights the significant challenges facing deeper East African integration. While leaders like Museveni envision a united bloc capable of standing on the world stage, public opinion remains wary, demanding that political union and accountability advance hand-in-hand with military ambition.

The proposal is expected to be a key topic of discussion at the next full EAC heads of state summit, where member countries will begin formal deliberations on its merits.