Regional Commissioner Fatma Mwassa underscored the critical role of border security in fostering sustainable development between Tanzania and Uganda during a three-day conference in Bukoba Municipality. The gathering, attended by officials from both nations, focused on strengthening security cooperation and implementing the African Union’s Cross Border Cooperation Convention.
Delivering the commissioner’s message, Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary Stephen Ndaki affirmed Tanzania’s commitment to maintaining peace and security along the shared border, emphasizing the longstanding cultural and diplomatic bonds between Tanzania and Uganda. “As close neighbors, our nations benefit from strong mutual ties that promote regional harmony,” Ndaki conveyed on behalf of RC Mwassa.
A senior Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Human Settlements representative, Hamdouny Mansoor, explained the meeting’s focus on the African Union’s 2014 Niamey Convention, which aims for effective cross-border collaboration by 2027. “The AU Border Programme fosters peace and security through careful border management, while the African Union Strategy for Integrated Border Governance emphasizes borders as instruments for stability,” he elaborated.
Ugandan delegation leader Jacqueline Wabyona highlighted the deep-rooted connection between the two countries and the importance of strengthening border relations. The Tanzania-Uganda border stretches 397.8 kilometers, comprising island areas, sections of the Kagera River, and Lake Victoria’s shoreline, creating natural boundaries that the AU initiative seeks to secure and develop.
This meeting represents a significant step in the AU’s border cooperation agenda, promoting sustainable regional security through strategic collaboration.