Understanding the Depth Behind Uganda’s Ocean Access Discourse.
Exploring Africa’s oceans: equity, UNCLOS, and strategies for coastal and landlocked states to ensure fair, sustainable, and secure access to the blue economy When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda recently declared that “if the question of access to the ocean is not addressed, the world could face unnecessary future conflicts,” the statement resonated far beyond Kampala’s policy circles. It was more than a national concern; it was a philosophical and geopolitical signal. In a single line, Museveni touched upon one of the least discussed yet most consequential questions in modern international relations — who truly benefits from the oceans, and how long can inequality in access to them persist without friction? Africa’s oceans represent a vast and underutilized frontier for economic transformation, regional integration, and strategic security. Yet access to these resources remains uneven, particularly for landlocked states whose participation in the blue economy is...