DAR ES SALAAM — Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni used high-level talks in Dar es Salaam to push a broad cooperation agenda centered on energy exports, transport integration, and regional peace, as both governments seek to convert long-running bilateral plans into near-term economic gains.
At the heart of the meeting was the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the $5 billion cross-border project designed to move Ugandan crude to Tanzania’s port of Tanga for export. Hassan said implementation remains on schedule and that oil transportation is expected to begin in July, a timeline that—if met—would mark a major milestone for both countries’ energy strategies.
Beyond crude exports, both sides signaled plans to deepen infrastructure interconnection: rail-link integration, a potential Tanzania-to-Uganda gas pipeline, and a refined-products corridor from Uganda to Tanga. Officials framed these as practical steps to reduce logistics costs, improve energy security and expand East African trade competitiveness.
The political optics were also significant. Museveni’s visit came shortly after Uganda’s contentious election cycle and was described as his first trip to Tanzania since Hassan’s disputed October 2025 re-election. That timing gave the meeting added diplomatic weight, with both leaders emphasizing stability and continuity in bilateral ties that date to the post-independence era.
For investors and policymakers, the immediate question is execution risk. EACOP has advanced, but financing, construction coordination, community impacts and climate-related scrutiny remain sensitive issues around the project. Still, the latest summit suggests both presidencies want to lock in deliverables rather than rely on declarations.
If July startup targets hold, Tanzania would further cement its role as Uganda’s primary export gateway for hydrocarbons, while Kampala would move closer to first large-scale oil export revenues. Combined with corridor and customs reforms, that could reshape trade flows across the central East African belt over the next few years. (Inference based on announced project design and route geography.
