Akena referred to historical statements by President Museveni acknowledging the destruction of food supplies and the destitution of about 2.7 million people during that period. He argued that the loss of cattle deprived communities of daily nutrition, household income, school fees, draft power, and soil fertility, leaving effects that continue to be felt today.
Kampala’s waste management system has come under increasing strain in recent years, including during Uganda’s first National Cleaning Day, when the volume of collected waste overwhelmed collection teams and temporarily clogged the Buyala disposal facility.
Uganda will co-host the 2027 tournament with Kenya and Tanzania under the East African "Pamoja" bid, the first time AFCON will be staged in the region.
Turning to security, Museveni argued that Africa's future strength will depend on political unity, saying individual countries may not have the capacity to compete globally in areas such as space and maritime security.
Regional health experts say East African governments are increasingly treating epidemic preparedness as both a public health and economic security priority.
The statement highlighted that both sides presented updates on steps taken to reduce tensions and advance implementation on the ground. These updates followed earlier consultations held in Washington on March 17th–18th, 2026, which also focused on confidence-building measures.