ACPSEA Successfully Organizes the Second East Africa Green Federation (EAGF) Congress in Kigali

The Africa Center for Peace, Security and Environmental Affairs (ACPSEA) successfully organized the East Africa Green Federation (EAGF) Congress on 8–9 May 2026 at Hotel Olympic Kimironko in Kigali, Rwanda. The two-day gathering brought together leaders and representatives of Green political parties from across the region—including Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and Somalia—united by a shared commitment to advocate for regional peace, security, and a climate-resilient East Africa.

A Region Ready for Change

The congress commenced against a backdrop of growing urgency. Rising fuel prices, increasing climate pressures, and a global energy transition have created challenges. Rather than viewing these pressures as obstacles, delegates arrived in Kigali with a clear and ambitious perspective.

They viewed the rising fuel costs as a catalyst or a blessing in disguise rather than a crisis, seeing it as an opportunity for a shift toward sustainable mobility and consolidating a broader engagement of the green movement in the region.

Key Highlights

Delegates engaged in wide-ranging discussions covering the most pressing environmental and political challenges facing the region. Central topics included the transition to clean transport, peace and security, environmental protection and climate change response, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and building the capacity of Green parties to engage effectively in national politics.

A standout moment came with the presentation of Rwanda's landmark April 2026 policy directive, requiring all public institutions to ensure at least 30% of newly procured vehicles are fully electric — a concrete step toward the country's broader goal of an 80% electric vehicle fleet. Generous fiscal incentives, including full exemptions from import duties, VAT, and excise taxes on electric vehicles until 2028, are already making clean transport more accessible to ordinary citizens.

Uganda's delegation highlighted an equally inspiring milestone: the Kayoola electric bus, manufactured locally by Kiira Motors Corporation, recently completed a 13,700-kilometre journey from Kampala to Cape Town and back — proving that African-made electric vehicles can handle the continent's most demanding conditions. The success has opened the door to major cross-border green trade discussions, pointing toward the emergence of an intra-African green economy.

International solidarity was also on the agenda. The Dutch Green politician, Niels van den Berge, called for stronger climate justice partnerships between Europe and Africa, and announced plans to bring the Easy Homes green housing initiative to Rwanda, focusing on low-carbon construction and sustainable forestry.

Emphasis on Peace and Security: A Green Priority

The congress also marked a significant reaffirmation of the EAGF's commitment to regional peace and security — a theme that sits at the very heart of ACPSEA's mission. Delegates used the occasion to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Global Green Movement, making it clear that environmental sustainability and political stability are inseparable goals.

Dr. Habineza was candid about the security challenges still facing the region, pointing in particular to ongoing instability in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan. His message, however, was one of hope grounded in process: "Peace is a wealth that we all need. What we do as political parties is to tell those in charge, but we also set an example in the words we say and the actions we take. If we have problems, they will not disappear, but people will solve them through understanding and peace."

He underscored that dialogue and political will — not force — are the pathways to lasting solutions, and highlighted Rwanda as a model for facilitating negotiated resolutions that other nations in the region could learn from.

This sentiment was echoed by delegates from across the region. Charles Bbaale of Uganda's Green Forum emphasized that inclusive dialogue is more productive than protest or provocation, arguing that no single person's ideas are enough — progress comes when ideas are shared, tested, and built upon collectively. Kenya's Lucy Kagendo of the Green Congress was equally direct: "We do not want to see people fighting, we want to live with others in peace."

The convergence of environmental and peace agendas at the congress reflects a maturing understanding among Green parties: that climate resilience, sustainable development, and regional stability are not separate policy lanes — they are deeply interconnected, and must be pursued together.

A Federation Growing Stronger

Beyond policy, the congress was a significant moment for regional solidarity. Delegates from Kenya, Burundi, Somalia, Uganda, and Rwanda came not just to exchange ideas, but to strengthen the federation itself — aligning strategies, sharing resources, and building the political infrastructure needed to turn green ambitions into national policy.

The EAGF congress is expected to produce a set of joint strategies that will guide regional cooperation on sustainable development and peacebuilding in the months ahead.

Looking Ahead

ACPSEA remains committed to convening spaces where environmental leadership, political will, and community voices come together. The 2026 EAGF Congress demonstrated that East Africa is not waiting for the world to act — it is charting its own course toward a fossil-fuel-free, climate-resilient, and peaceful future.