This archive report was first published on 27 July 2019.
Published on July 27, 2019, the past couple of weeks have given cause for optimism in East African regional integration.
President John Magufuli played host to his Kenyan and Ugandan peers in private visits at Chato home in Geita region, marking a significant shift in the region's politics.
During President Uhuru Kenyatta's visit, President Magufuli gifted him four peacocks, a symbol of the warm camaraderie between the two leaders.
President Yoweri Museveni's visit, however, was seen as a briefing mission, as he arrived in Chato straight from Luanda, where he had attended a meeting to broker rapprochement between Kampala and Kigali.
Despite the difficult situation between Uganda and Rwanda, there has been tangible movement in the region, with Tanzania opening the door for Ugandan sugar and Ugandan cane growers striking a deal to export the surplus to western Kenya.
Kenya also returned a haul of gold and cash that had been illegally smuggled across the border, demonstrating the region's commitment to open commerce.
These developments show that regional integration can be achieved through practical, rather than sentimental, means.
They also demonstrate the importance of pragmatic leadership, as the region's leaders choose to put aside their differences and work towards a common goal.
