Bonoan being forced to produce evidence against Romualdez – lawyer

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s spokesperson claimed that former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan is being forced to produce evidence against the lawmaker, saying it appears there is no document linking Romualdez to the infrastructure corruption issues.

In a radio interview, Atty. Ade Fajardo said they believe Bonoan ‘more likely has nothing to say’ but is being placed in a precarious position after investigators claimed he would be a key witness against Romualdez.

‘That’s why it’s hard to force him, and you will also place Secretary Bonoan in a dangerous position by making up these certain things that he cannot say, because that will be hard to do,’ Fajardo told DZRH, according to transcripts released to reporters.

‘It appears that there is an effort to force the production of evidence against Congressman Romualdez when the truth is there is nothing to produce,’ he added.

Fajardo did not identify who proposed tapping Bonoan as a state witness. However, on June 30, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano admitted the decision to tap Bonoan as a state witness was made to strengthen the case against Romualdez.

Fajardo also said that if former Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. was granted bail-indicating that the allegations against him were weak-there would be even less basis to implicate former House Speaker Romualdez.

‘If (former) Senator Revilla had a DPWH undersecretary who himself said he delivered money, but Sandiganbayan still considered that insufficient evidence, what more for the former speaker of the House when there is no such testimony,’ the lawyer added.

According to Fajardo, the supposed evidence against Romualdez consists only of what he described as ‘baseless stories’ by the 18 bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co.

‘There is no CCTV footage, no photos, no evidence. Everything seems to be based on stories and statements of individuals whose affidavits have been proven unbelievable,’ he added.

Romualdez’s camp has repeatedly maintained that Bonoan is under pressure from the Office of the Ombudsman.

On July 2, Romualdez’s lawyer Elaine Atienza maintained that attempts to link the Leyte lawmaker to the issues ‘are not supported by evidence,’ arguing that the former House speaker could not have exercised total control over the entire budget process.

Atienza also said Bonoan did not implicate Romualdez in past investigations and congressional hearings because the lawmaker was not involved in the alleged anomalous insertions.

Fajardo said on July 9 that Bonoan might have been pressured to testify against Romualdez by the threat of being transferred to an ordinary jail facility.

The lawyer explained that the possibility of being moved from hospital arrest once Bonoan is medically cleared may have weighed heavily on his mind, especially given his advanced age.

Romualdez has maintained his innocence.

After he was barred from flying to Singapore for a medical checkup in April, Romualdez broke his silence, asking how he could be the mastermind of the alleged scheme when Congress does not solely craft the annual budget or implement projects.

Romualdez said budget preparation begins not in Congress but in the executive branch, which crafts and submits the National Expenditures Program.

He has not been linked to any of the companies that carried out the flood control projects. However, contractor-couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya named him as one of the lawmakers who allegedly received kickbacks from the contracts awarded to them.

Co, who chaired the House committee on appropriations during Romualdez’s term as speaker, later released a video accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former members of his Cabinet, and Romualdez of being behind insertions in the 2025 national budget.

Co also backed a Senate witness’ claim that money in luggage was delivered to Marcos and Romualdez. However, Co’s statements were questioned for being inconsistent with the budget process.

Maymay makes landfall over Magsingal in Ilocos Sur

Tropical Storm Maymay made landfall over Magsingal, Ilocos Sur at 2 a.m. Thursday, the state weather bureau said.

As of 1 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) had raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 over:

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

Northern and central La Union (Luna, Caba, Santol, Bauang, City of San Fernando, San Juan, Bagulin, Aringay, Bangar, San Gabriel, Burgos, Naguilian, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Balaoan)

Northwestern Pangasinan (Anda, Bolinao, Bani)

Western Apayao (Conner, Kabugao, Calanasan)

Abra

Western Kalinga (Pasil, Tinglayan, Balbalan, Lubuagan)

Western Mountain Province (Besao, Tadian, Bauko, Sagada, Sabangan, Bontoc, Sadanga)

Northwestern Benguet (Mankayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, Sablan, Bakun, La Trinidad, Tublay, Atok, Buguias)

Northwestern Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria)

Signal No. 1 remained in effect over:

The rest of La Union

The rest of Pangasinan

The rest of Apayao

The rest of Kalinga

The rest of Mountain Province

Ifugao

The rest of Benguet

Southern Babuyan Islands (Calayan Island, Dalupiri Island, Fuga Island, Camiguin Island)

The rest of mainland Cagayan

Isabela

Quirino

Nueva Vizcaya

Northern Zambales (Candelaria, Santa Cruz, Masinloc, Palauig)

Northern Tarlac (Mayantoc, San Clemente, Camiling, Santa Ignacia, Gerona, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria)

Northern Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Cuyapo, Talugtug, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Bongabon, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Santo Domingo, General Mamerto Natividad, Quezon, Licab)

Northern and central Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, San Luis, Maria Aurora)

Earlier, Pagasa said Maymay is expected to weaken into a tropical depression Thursday morning after making landfall, then further weaken into a low-pressure area by Thursday afternoon or evening.

‘However, due to interaction with the rugged terrain, an earlier weakening is possible,’ it said.

X-raying Keyamo’s aviation diplomacy

WHEN Festus Keyamo assumed office as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development a few years ago, he inherited an industry confronting familiar challenges: ageing infrastructure, high operating costs, inadequate access to aircraft financing, limited international connectivity and an imbalance in the implementation of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs).

Like many of his predecessors, he unveiled a five-point agenda centred on strict regulatory compliance, infrastructure development, support for indigenous airlines, revenue optimisation and the enhancement of safety and security.

However, beyond these policy pillars, Keyamo has introduced another dimension that has become increasingly visible: aviation diplomacy.

Although diplomacy is not expressly listed among his policy objectives, it has emerged as one of the administration’s most effective tools for advancing Nigeria’s aviation interests.

Rather than limiting engagement to domestic reforms, the minister has taken Nigeria’s aviation agenda directly to governments, aircraft manufacturers, financiers and international industry stakeholders.

Some observers may wonder where BASA negotiations and diplomatic outreach fit within the minister’s five-point agenda. They arguably cut across revenue optimisation and support for local airlines. Yet, diplomacy deserves recognition as a strategic pillar on its own because BASAs have little practical value if they exist only on paper without reciprocal benefits for Nigerian operators.

For decades, Nigeria signed numerous BASAs with countries across the world, but many remained underutilised. In several cases, foreign airlines benefited far more from the agreements than Nigerian carriers, largely because indigenous airlines lacked the capacity, financing or market access to take advantage of the opportunities created.

Recognising this imbalance, Keyamo has been involved in a series of diplomatic engagements since the beginning of his tenure.

Last year, the minister held talks in the United States during a visit to HOG Technologies on runway maintenance equipment; travelled to Ireland, where he attended the Aviation Economics Conference in Dublin, and signed the amended Nigeria-UAE Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) in the United Arab Emirates.

His other bilateral engagements during the year took him to Ethiopia, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Egypt, where he had bilateral talks.

In 2026 alone, the minister had key agreements involving the UAE and Belgium. He also engaged Saudi Arabian authorities on the review of the Nigeria-Saudi Arabia BASA and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Development Bank in Congo-Brazzaville.

Beyond government-to-government engagements, he has also held strategic meetings with global aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.

Nevertheless, diplomacy should not become an end in itself. Meetings, communiqués and Memoranda of Understanding are valuable only when they translate into measurable outcomes.

The success of Keyamo’s diplomatic strategy will, ultimately, be judged by whether Nigerian airlines gain greater access to international routes: whether BASAs become genuinely reciprocal, whether aircraft become easier to finance; whether airports attract new investments, and whether passengers enjoy improved connectivity and competitive services.

Equally important is ensuring that indigenous airlines remain at the centre of these international engagements. Every BASA negotiation, investment discussion and technical partnership should, ultimately, strengthen the capacity of Nigerian carriers to compete regionally and globally.

The minister, therefore, still has considerable work ahead, beyond undertaking official visits and signing bilateral agreements. The true measure of success will not be the number of BASAs concluded or diplomatic engagements undertaken, but the extent to which these agreements deliver tangible benefits to Nigerian airlines and the national economy.

Ultimately, what matters is whether the dozens of BASAs translate into expanded market access, reciprocal opportunities, increased passenger traffic, and sustainable growth for Nigeria’s aviation industry.

However, if this momentum is sustained and backed by consistent implementation, Keyamo’s diplomatic outreach could become one of the defining legacies of his tenure, transforming BASAs from dormant agreements into strategic instruments for national economic growth and aviation development.

Delayed certificates stall teachers’ promotion as NTI graduates protest in Ekiti

Former students of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) study centres across Ekiti State, on Monday, staged a protest, disrupting the ongoing NCE and B.Ed. examinations conducted at various centres in the state.

At the Federal Government College, Ikole-Ekiti, protesters blocked the main entrance to the school, preventing candidates, staff, and other authorised persons from gaining access to the examination venue for several hours.

The demonstrators, who are graduates of the NTI programme, chanted solidarity songs and displayed placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘No Certificate, No Exam’, expressing their frustration over the prolonged delay in the issuance of their certificates and statements of results.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that many of the affected graduates completed their programmes more than six years ago, but are yet to receive their certificates or official statements of results.

The delay, they said, had negatively affected their career progression, as many of them are serving teachers who require these credentials for promotion by the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).

The protesters called on the management of the National Teachers’ Institute to urgently address the situation by releasing the outstanding certificates and results to all qualified graduates.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the NTI were unsuccessful, as calls placed to the official telephone number, 09166504342, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

President hails ex-Army chief Tarfa at 85

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday paid glowing tribute to Maj. -Gen. Paul Tarfa(rtd) on his 85th birthday.

The President described him as a distinguished soldier, patriot and elder statesman whose life has been defined by honour, discipline, courage and unwavering commitment to Nigeria.

In a congratulatory message to him, the President praised Tarfa’s decades of service to the country, saying his contributions to national unity, peace and development have continued long after he retired from the military.

Tinubu particularly commended him for his leadership as Chairman of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC), noting that he has brought his wealth of experience and strategic insight to the task of rebuilding communities devastated by insurgency.

‘My dear General, as Chairman of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), you continue to exemplify purposeful leadership, bringing to bear your vast experience and strategic insight in supporting the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and sustainable development of communities devastated by years of insurgency’, the President said.

He added that Tarfa’s military career and post-service engagements reflected an enduring commitment to Nigeria’s unity, peace and progress.

‘Your life has been defined by honour, discipline, courage, and commitment to the service of our great nation. Throughout your illustrious military career and in retirement, you remained steadfast in devotion to Nigeria’s unity, peace, and progress’, Tinubu stated.

The President also described the retired general as a respected mentor whose calm disposition, sound judgment and selfless approach to public service have earned him admiration across generations.

‘I have always admired your calm disposition, sound judgment, and selfless approach to national service. These enduring qualities have earned you the respect of generations of Nigerians and have made you a worthy mentor to younger leaders across the country’, he said.

Tinubu thanked Tarfa for what he described as a lifetime of sacrifice, patriotism and exemplary leadership, assuring him that the nation remained grateful for his invaluable contributions to nation-building and humanity.

‘On this special day, I salute you for a lifetime of sacrifice, patriotism, and exemplary leadership. Nigeria remains grateful for your invaluable contributions to nation-building and your continued service to humanity’, the President said.

Ubani: School certificate omission doesn’t invalidate nomination

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and constitutional lawyer, Dr Monday Ubani, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not under constitutional obligation to submit his primary and secondary school certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Admitting that the controversy over the omission was not out of place, Ubani submitted during a during a current affairs radio programme yesterday that it does not amount to a legal breach.

He also spoke on the controversy over discrepancies in the names appearing on the academic credentials of National Democratic Congress(NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi. The discrepancies are Obi’s West African Examination Certificate as well as University of Nigeria and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) documents.

The publication of candidates’ credentials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reignited public debate over the educational qualifications for the office of the President.

It prompted questions about whether a university degree alone satisfies the constitutional requirement or whether candidates must also submit their primary and secondary school certificates.

But Ubani said the issue should be viewed strictly from the standpoint of constitutional law rather than public sentiment.

‘It is about the law, not about maybe sentiment or bias, which I see flying about,’ the senior Lawyer said.

According to him, Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution only requires a presidential candidate to show evidence of having been educated up to school certificate level or its equivalent and does not expressly compel the production of primary or secondary school certificates.

‘The Constitution says that whosoever will run for the office of the president must possess, show that he has attained the level up to school certificate level,’ he clarified.

Ubani argued that the provision had been interpreted by the courts and that the law does not require candidates to physically produce school certificates. ‘There’s no legal compulsion that he must disclose his certificate, or he must show it. I’ll say that it’s only a moral issue and it has nothing to do with legal compulsion,’ Ubani said.

He maintained that while the omission of primary and secondary school certificates may fuel public debate over transparency and accountability, it does not amount to a constitutional violation.

The SAN pointed out that existing judicial interpretation of the Constitution makes a clear distinction between what is legally required and what may be considered morally desirable of a candidate seeking the country’s highest office.

‘There’s no constitutional compulsion to show a certificate, and there is a judicial pronouncement to that effect that the constitution does not require a certificate of production. It’s just for you to show that you have been educated up to that level,’ he added.

Ubani further explained that where a candidate submits a recognised university degree, the law presumes that such a person must have passed through the lower levels of education unless evidence is produced to prove otherwise.

‘If somebody has a degree, the presumption is that he must have passed through primary school, secondary school, and university… So it is for you now to rebut it,’ he said.

While defending the constitutional position, the senior lawyer admitted that the omission of lower educational qualifications raises legitimate questions of transparency.

Ubani noted that although the omission does not invalidate a nomination, candidates seeking public office should strive for openness.

‘I agree that ordinarily, whoever is submitting his credentials should have shown evidence of his primary school certificate and should have also shown evidence of his secondary school certificate. These are moral issues. These are issues of transparency.’

On INEC’s position that it merely publishes candidates’ documents for public scrutiny without verifying their authenticity, Ubani said the electoral body acted within the law.

‘There is no provision in the Act that gives INEC the supervisory role of authenticating and qualifying or disqualifying a candidate. The law now has provided a remedy for anyone who feels that whatever information that a candidate has given to INEC is false,’ he stated.

He maintained that INEC’s responsibility ends with making the documents public, leaving aggrieved persons to seek judicial redress where necessary.

On previous litigation over alleged certificate forgery involving Tinubu after the 2023 presidential election, Ubani said the Supreme Court did not determine the allegation on its merits.

‘I don’t think there was any judgement on merit at that time,’ he said.

According to him, procedural shortcomings prevented the apex court from making a substantive pronouncement on the allegation.

He added that educational qualification disputes are primarily pre-election matters and must be brought within the time prescribed by law after INEC publishes candidates’ particulars.

‘If you are challenging the certificate issue, this is the right time for you to do it within 14 days after the publication. If you fail to do it now under the new Act, I don’t think you can bring it up as a post-qualification issue.’

On Obi’s documents, Ubani said inconsistencies in names are not necessarily evidence of wrongdoing but must be properly documented.

‘It’s an issue now. Peter Obi has to give a reason why the change and all that. It’s an issue. There must be a public document to that effect.’

4 activists get protection vs red-tagging

Four rights activists based in Negros Occidental have been granted temporary protection by the Supreme Court (SC) against alleged red-tagging and surveillance activities by the military and other law enforcement agencies.

The SC yesterday said it issued writs of amparo and habeas data in favor of lawyer Rey Gorgonio, Joselito Macapobre, Analyn Mirano and Ma. Anabelle Ilustrisimo.

Gorgonio is chairman of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL)-Negros chapter.

Macapobre is a community organizer of local progressive group Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG).

Gorgonio and Macapobre have accused the military and other law enforcement agents of conducting surveillance on them and their works.

In their petition, the rights workers cited what they described as a pattern of vilification and red-tagging directed against the PDG and those associated with the group including Gorgonio.

The NUPL denounced attempts by state forces to recruit their members to become intelligence operatives, surveillance of their offices and residences and intimidation in communities.

The group accused the military of threats and attempting to kidnap Macapobre in January.

Gorgonio said the kidnapping attempt occurred as the PDG was building a case against a plantation owner in the town of Candoni.

He said he received messages that he would be ‘silenced for being too brave.’

The high tribunal directed Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete and other military officers to observe a one-kilometer distance from the petitioners and their immediate relatives.

The SC directed the Court of Appeals (CA) to conduct a summary hearing and determine if the petitioners are entitled to the privileges of the writs.

The CA is expected to receive the military’s reply containing their defenses and other relevant information as well as their comments on the petition.

The appellate court was given 10 days to resolve the issue.

Magnitude 6.4 quake hits Sarangani; aftershocks expected

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolted Sarangani shortly past noon yesterday, and was expected to generate aftershocks, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the quake occurred at 12:14 p.m., with its epicenter located 37 kilometers southwest of Balut Island.

The quake, which was tectonic in origin, was initially reported to be magnitude 7.1, but was later downgraded by state seismologists.

It was felt at Intensity 5 in Glan, Sarangani.

Intensity 4 was felt in Alabel, Kiamba and Malungon in Sarangani, and Tupi and Polomolok in South Cotabato as well as in General Santos City.

Intensity 3 was felt in Maasim, Maitum and Malapatan in Sarangani, and Lake Sebu and Tampakan in South Cotabato.

Intensity 2 was recorded in Banga, Koronadal and Surallah in South Cotabato.

Phivolcs said the quake was an aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 temblor that struck Sarangani in June.

Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said the 6.4 temblor occurred 50 kilometers from the epicenter of the 7.8 magnitude quake, making it an aftershock of the powerful quake.

Bacolcol said that yesterday’s quake caused the sea level to rise by about 20 centimeters.

Court operations suspended

The quake prompted court administrators and officials in General Santos City and Sarangani to suspend work.

Judges Dennis Velasco and Paulo Aquino of General Santos City and Sarangani, respectively, suspended court operations starting 1 p.m.

Filing and submission of time-bound pleadings, and issuance of court resolutions and decisions were deferred.

Amid the suspension, the courts were ordered to remain accessible through their hotlines and email accounts.

Judges and clerks of court were directed to inspect and assess office premises, arrange necessary clean-up or maintenance works, and ensure that equipment, records and other properties are secured.

Zakat foundation inaugurates BOT, unveils digital platform

The statement signed by Dr Ado Muhammad on behalf of its Steering Committee, indicated that the event would hold at the auditorium of the National Mosque in Abuja.

It added that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Saad Abubakar, would be the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the foundation was established as a faith-inspired, non-profit platform.

It is also to harness the Zakat, Sadaqah, and other forms of Islamic philanthropy to reduce poverty, improve livelihoods and support vulnerable members of the society.

It seeks to strengthen the administration of Zakat through transparency, accountability, Sharia (Islamic law) compliance and the responsible use of technology.

At the heart of the vision is EasyZakat platform, a web and mobile application, designed to make the calculation, payment, collection, tracking and distribution of Zakat easier.

It is also expected to make the activity more transparent and accountable.

The platform connects givers, beneficiaries, administrators and relevant institutions through a secure digital interface.

It will also limit manual handling, human discretion and reduces the risk of interferences or manipulation.

The platform would provides digital records, beneficiary validation, auditable transaction trails, and real-time tracking of contributions from the giver to the intended beneficiary.

‘The platform is, therefore, not only a payment channel, but also a built-in accountability mechanism.’

‘It will enable givers to monitor their contributions, recall their giving history, view their dashboard, and obtain extractable records where required.

‘Effectively, it will strengthen donor confidence and ensure that every contribution can be transparently traced and responsibly accounted for,’ the statement explained.

It added that the inauguration of the BOT and the unveiling of the platform represented a major milestone in ‘building a credible, technology-driven and impactful institution dedicated to Islamic social finance, social justice, poverty reduction and inclusive community development across Nigeria’.(NAN)

What Museveni’s second visit to Tanzania this year means for Dar and Kampala ties

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni begins a two-day working visit to Tanzania today, as the two countries seek to strengthen bilateral ties.

The August 5-6 visit marks President Museveni’s second trip to Tanzania this year, coming six months after his February working visit during which he and President Samia Suluhu Hassan pledged to fast-track a series of strategic infrastructure, transport and energy projects.

‘The discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including trade and investment, infrastructure and transport, energy, tourism, defence and security, and regional integration,’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation said in a statement yesterday.

The visit aims to further strengthen the longstanding historical, fraternal and diplomatic relations between Tanzania and Uganda, it said, adding that the two leaders will also review progress in implementing strategic projects and discuss measures to remove barriers affecting trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Analysts speculate that the leaders will focus on accelerating key cross-border infrastructure projects and reviewing progress on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), among other things. The flagship EACOP project has moved significantly closer to completion. During an inspection of the project in Tanga on June 29, Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi announced that construction had reached 86 percent, with completion expected this month. He also said the first crude oil shipment from Chongoleani Port is now expected in January 2027, replacing the earlier target of July 2026.

‘The minor challenge we identified is that electricity lines have not yet reached the project site. I have directed the contractor, through TANESCO, to ensure the work is completed before the contract deadline,’ he said.

The $6 billion EACOP project stretches about 1,443 kilometres from Hoima in western Uganda to Chongoleani in Tanga and is expected to become the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline. According to the government, construction has already created about 10,000 jobs, with approximately 7,500-equivalent to 75 percent-going to Tanzanians.

Beyond EACOP, the two governments are also pursuing a proposed natural gas pipeline from Tanzania to Uganda, a refined petroleum products pipeline to Tanga, expansion of the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara, and railway projects intended to improve regional connectivity and lower transport costs.

An economist at the University of Iringa, Mr Samson Rutashobya, said the visit is likely to concentrate on ensuring the remaining work on EACOP and other strategic projects is completed on schedule. He added that the talks could also culminate in the signing of new agreements on other bilateral projects, particularly the proposed natural gas pipeline and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connection between the two countries. ‘The relationship between Tanzania and Uganda has increasingly shifted from political goodwill to implementation of large economic projects. This visit offers an opportunity for the two leaders to assess progress, resolve remaining bottlenecks and ensure the agreed projects deliver the expected economic benefits,’ he said.

He added that successful completion of EACOP would strengthen investor confidence while positioning Tanzania as a major regional energy and logistics hub.

The Executive Director of the Research on Poverty Alleviation (Repoa), Dr Donald Mmari, said regular high-level engagements demonstrate both countries’ commitment to translating bilateral agreements into measurable economic outcomes.

‘Major infrastructure projects require continuous political oversight because they involve multiple institutions and cross-border coordination. The visit provides an opportunity to review implementation while discussing wider trade, investment and industrial cooperation,’ he said.

According to him, improved transport and energy infrastructure could significantly reduce business costs and stimulate trade throughout the East African Community.

Foreign policy analyst and political scientist at the University of Dar es Salaam, Mr Salbinus David, said the visit also carries important diplomatic significance.

‘Tanzania and Uganda are among the region’s most influential countries. Frequent consultations between their leaders strengthen cooperation not only on bilateral projects but also on regional peace, security and East African integration,’ he said.

Mr David noted that the second visit within a single year reflects the strategic importance both governments attach to their partnership, particularly as major infrastructure projects approach completion.

A public administration and political analyst at the State University of Zanzibar, Prof Makame Ali Ussi, said presidential diplomacy has become increasingly important in ensuring regional flagship projects remain on course.

‘Large cross-border investments require sustained political commitment. Regular meetings between heads of state help maintain momentum, resolve emerging challenges and reinforce confidence among investors and development partners,’ he said.