NRM, Kenya’s UDA forge cross-border alliance
NRM and UDA leaders after the meeting. PHOTO | FRANKLIN DRAKU
What you need to know:
- The commitment was made in Nairobi during a working visit by NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong to his UDA counterpart Omar Hassan
Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and Kenya’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) have pledged to strengthen political cooperation across borders, focusing on governance, peace, and development.
The commitment was made in Nairobi during a working visit by NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong to his UDA counterpart Omar Hassan. At a joint press conference, the two parties vowed to promote good governance, transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. They also rejected extremism and affirmed support for national unity and civil rights.
“As ruling parties, we agreed to work towards strengthening institutions, restoring public trust, and delivering effective governance,” Mr Hassan said. He added that both parties would coordinate foreign policy and support sustainable development.
“Regular consultations will be held to monitor progress and deepen cooperation,” he said. Mr Todwong thanked UDA for the warm reception and conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Museveni. He emphasised the importance of Kenya-Uganda relations, noting Kenya’s critical role in the region’s economy.
“Kenya is the umbilical cord of our economy. What happens there affects Uganda directly,” Mr Todwong said. “We are keen on enhancing party-to-party, people-to-people, and government-to-government ties,” he added.
He said more engagements are planned, including a return visit by UDA officials to Uganda for further discussions. “We pray and hope that this collaboration continues, and we shall also expect that our comrades in UDA, together with the Secretary General, will pay us a visit for a more detailed discussions that we shall have with Uganda,” he said.
The NRM delegation included Maj (Rtd) Awich Pollar, the director of external affairs at the NRM Secretariat, and Col Okei Rukogota, the director of the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi. UDA) is a political party in Kenya that rose to national prominence in the lead-up to the 2022 general elections. It is currently the ruling party, led by President William Ruto, who ran on the UDA ticket under the broader Kenya Kwanza Alliance, a coalition of like-minded parties.
