Tanzania's Samia Suluhu makes first trip as President, visits Uganda [Photos]

By Robert Abong'o

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu and Uganda President Yoweri Museveni. [Courtesy, Yoweri Museveni/Twitter]

Tanzania's Samia Suluhu has made her first trip as President to Uganda, where she is visiting for a day.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni shared pictures of Suluhu’s arrival on Twitter. She is believed to be visiting for bilateral trade talks that will culminate in the signing of the crude oil pipeline deal between Tanzania and Uganda.

The “tripartite deal” will kick off the construction of a crude oil pipeline from Uganda to Tanga, the Tanzanian seaport.

Through a statement, Uganda's ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Tripartite Project would be finalised upon Suluhu’s visit.

The President of #Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan has been received today at the Entebbe International Airport by Uganda's Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa [Courtesy]

Yesterday, President Uhuru Kenyatta invited Suluhu to Kenya amid efforts to amend frosty relations between Dar and Nairobi, which escalated under the reign of former President John Magufuli, now deceased.

On Saturday, April 10 President Kenyatta sent Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to Tanzania to formally deliver Kenya’s invite to President Suluhu.

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu with her Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni. [Courtesy, Yoweri Museveni/Twitter]

“Today, President Suluhu has received a special delegation from the President of the Republic of Kenya, led by Sports minister Amb. Amina Mohamed,” read part of a press statement by Tanzania State House Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa.

Msigwa said Amina’s visit to Tanzania was aimed at delivering President Kenyatta’s goodwill message to Suluhu amid a strained relationship between the two East African neighbours.

“President Kenyatta has assured President Suluhu of Kenya’s commitment to cooperate with Tanzania for the betterment of the two nations,” said Msigwa.

Suluhu said her Government was ready to resolve all the differences – perceived or real – that Tanzania has with Kenya.

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni. [Courtesy, Yoweri Museveni/Twitter]

The Tanzanian leader said the two countries share a rich history, and that the ties should not end over issues that can be resolved.

Suluhu also said Tanzania and Kenya should revive the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), which she suggested would play a big role in firming ties.