His election took place during the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State held in Arusha, Tanzania on March 7, 2026. Museveni takes over the rotating position from Kenya’s President, William Samoei Ruto.

President Museveni thanked the Heads of State of the East African Community for entrusting him with the responsibility of serving as Chairperson of the EAC Summit for the next year.

He reaffirmed his commitment to advancing regional integration, strengthening cooperation among partner states, and promoting peace, stability, and economic growth across the region.

The summit also appointed Tanzanian diplomat Stephen Patrick Mbundi as the new Secretary General of the EAC for a five-year term from 2026 to 2031. He replaces Veronica Nduva of Kenya, who had been serving in the role since June 2024.

The Secretary General is responsible for coordinating the activities of the EAC Secretariat, managing the organization’s resources, and preparing meetings involving partner states.

The summit was attended by several regional leaders including Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Where Rwanda was represented by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva on behalf of President Paul Kagame.