Oburu Tells Ruto and Museveni to Change Lake Victoria Security Management

ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has urged President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, to make changes in the security management of the shared Lake Victoria.

Speaking during the groundbreaking of the SGR extension from Kisumu to Malaba on Saturday, March 21, 2026, which President Museveni also attended, Oburu urged that Lake Victoria be treated as a shared facility for joint management.

“President Museveni, I appeal to you to make Lake Victoria a common-user facility so that security is managed jointly. We don’t want harassment from either side,” Oburu said.

ODM Leader Calls on Kenya and Uganda to Jointly Manage Lake Victoria

Oburu highlighted the historical and economic significance of regional infrastructure, noting that the SGR project, originally conceived in 1925, has now been made viable through innovative financing.

“This project is not only important for Uganda, but for Malaba and the wider African region. Commitment to infrastructure development is key for managing our three countries, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania,” he said.

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He stressed that colonial borders should not prevent cooperation.

“One country was split into three due to colonial reforms, but many communities straddle both sides. Uganda and Kenya are deeply interconnected. That is why Lake Victoria must be a common-user facility, managed jointly to ensure security and smooth operations,” Oburu added.

President Ruto’s Remarks

President Ruto, who launched the SGR extension project, praised the project as a transformative milestone for Kenya and the region.

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He traced the history of the Uganda Railway, noting that it reshaped East Africa by linking Mombasa to Kisumu and onward to Uganda, creating economic hubs like Nairobi, Eldoret, Jinja, and Kisumu.

“It is in moments such as this, when we gather to break ground for infrastructure that will define generations, that the destinies of our people, cities, and nations are shaped,” Ruto said.

He noted that the original metre-gauge railway fell into disrepair but that the modern SGR now extends from Mombasa to Malaba, forming a seamless regional link.

Ruto emphasised that the railway will reduce transport costs, improve efficiency, and connect farmers, traders, and industries to markets.

“This railway will enable the seamless movement of people and goods from Mombasa through Nairobi to Kampala and beyond, transforming journeys that once took days into trips measured in hours,” he said.

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Photo of ODM leader Oburu Oginga and Uganda President Yoweri Museveni. PHOTO/Handout/Statehouse Uganda