Uhuru Kenyatta Arrives in Uganda for High-Level AU Talks on Eastern DRC Peace
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has arrived in Uganda to participate in critical high-level discussions as part of the African Union (AU)-led mediation efforts aimed at advancing peace and stability in the conflict-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The former Kenyan leader landed at Entebbe International Airport on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, where he was warmly received by Kenya's Ambassador to Uganda, Joash Maangi. The visit underscores Uhuru's continued influential role in regional diplomacy, particularly as the AU-Kenya Peace Envoy and Facilitator of the East African Community (EAC)-led Nairobi Peace Process.
This engagement in Uganda builds on Uhuru's ongoing involvement in the multi-track mediation framework for eastern DRC, which has seen him participate in prior high-level forums, including a key AU meeting in Lomé, Togo, in mid-January 2026. That session, chaired by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé (the AU Mediator), brought together former heads of state and senior diplomats to consolidate fragmented peace initiatives, reaffirm commitment to political solutions, and endorse dialogue as the primary path to ending hostilities.
The eastern DRC remains plagued by persistent violence involving dozens of armed groups, including the M23 rebels, foreign-backed militias, and local militias, leading to massive displacement, humanitarian crises, and cross-border tensions involving Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. The AU mediation seeks to harmonize overlapping processes—such as the Luanda Process (Angola-led), Nairobi Process (Kenya/EAC-led), and Doha talks—to create coherence and pressure parties toward ceasefires, disarmament, and inclusive political dialogue.
Uhuru Kenyatta's shuttle diplomacy and facilitation have been central to these efforts since his appointment, leveraging his experience from the Nairobi Process, which has facilitated consultations with Congolese stakeholders, armed groups, and regional leaders. His presence in Uganda—a key neighbor with direct stakes in DRC security due to shared borders and historical involvement—likely involves coordination with President Yoweri Museveni and other stakeholders to align positions ahead of upcoming talks or summits.
The Office of the Fourth President confirmed the arrival via social media, posting images of the reception at Entebbe and using hashtags #PeaceInDRC and #AUMediation to highlight the mission's focus. No specific details on the exact agenda or participants in the Uganda engagements have been publicly disclosed yet, but the visit signals intensified diplomatic momentum amid renewed clashes and calls for urgent de-escalation in the region.
This development reflects the broader continental push to resolve one of Africa's most protracted crises through African-led solutions, with Uhuru's role emphasizing Kenya's leadership in promoting peace in the Great Lakes region.
