Mourning pushes back EACOP signing

Mourning pushes back EACOP signing

A deal involving Uganda, Tanzania and Total has been pushed back, following the death of Tanzanian President John Magufuli.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced there would be 14 days of mourning. The president said a three-way deal had been planned to be signed on March 22 in Entebbe.

This suggests the agreement on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) might be signed in early April.

Museveni, and his wife Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni, signed a condolence book for the Tanzanian leader at the High Commission of Tanzania in Uganda.

The Ugandan president said Magufuli's death was a “great loss”, noting the Tanzanian leader's impact in his own country and beyond.

Museveni also noted that March 22 was the anniversary of the defeat of Idi Amin by combined forces from Tanzania and Ugandan freedom fighters.

“It is a challenge for those who are still alive to continue the struggle as we did in the past because when we lost our comrades we never gave up. And because we never gave up, we succeeded and even this time we shall succeed,” he said.

Passing the torch

Magufuli's funeral was held on March 22 in Chato. The president was last seen in public on February 27. According