The COVID-19 Pandemic and Uganda-Kenya Relations

Abstract

Understanding relations between States calls for deeper understanding of theories underlying not International Relations. This research focuses more on liberalism and the English School images in dissecting Uganda-Kenya bilateral relations. Uganda and Kenya relations stem from a neo-liberal view of International Relations basing on state cooperation and collaboration. Covid-19 pandemic seemed to strengthen this cooperation with implementation of East African Community Covid-19 response plan. This measure however, was criticised by human rights groups as a neglect human rights and international norms especially of refugees and asylum seekers during cross border movement between Uganda and Kenya.

Kenya and Uganda as neighboring states form a significant part of the East African Community dating back in the 1900s. Regional integration between the two states is based on friendly relations and cooperation which started with the Railway construction back in the 1896.The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic increased cooperation between the two states through East African Community collaborative efforts to fight the pandemic. Uganda and Kenya through the East African Community Covid-19 response plan agreed to undertake joint action towards the prevention and control of communicable diseases, pandemics and epidemics of communicable and vector-borne diseases that might endanger the health and welfare of residents of partner states.