Museveni, Magufuli continue to kick Kenya aside

Uganda and Tanzania have struck mega deals that underline the two countries' continued isolation and sidelining of Kenya in development matters.Tanzania President John Magufuli flew to Uganda on Thursday, November 9, to start his three-day state visit.He was welcomed by Uganda's Yoweri Museveni. During the visit, the two leaders struck deals that will see the two countries benefit economically and improve relations between them.They commissioned a one-stop customs centre at the Mutukula border of Uganda and Tanzania and lay groundwork for the construction of a mega pipeline that will run from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania."We also laid a foundation stone for the KSh 35 billion ($3.5 billion) oil pipeline from Hoima to Tanga. This is a big win for us in realising the core objective of the East African Community, in as far as ease of movement of persons and trade is concerned," Museveni's office said. Tanzania confiscated and auctioned at least 1,035 cows belonging to Kenyan herders that had crossed to Tanzania for pastures. Magufuli warned that Tanzania is not grazing grounds for Kenya livestock.His government also burned 6000 chicks that were on the way to Dar es Salaam from Nairobi. Kenya wrote a protest letter to the Tanzanian government demanding answers on their actions.At the same time, police officers from Uganda arrested and locked up in Ugandan cells over 20 Kenyan fishermen who were allegedly found fishing in Ugandan waters in L.Victoria. The move angered leaders from the Luo Nyanza region but the Jubilee administration said the fishermen should face the consequences if they were found in Uganda waters.