# East African regional economic integration efforts > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/east-african-regional-economic-integration-efforts > Updated: 2026-09-02T11:04:23.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. East African nations are pursuing various initiatives to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration. In Uganda and Tanzania, efforts have focused on physical infrastructure. Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport has increased field monitoring of road networks in the Southern Region to assess maintenance needs. Simultaneously, Tanzania has called for the accelerated construction of the 73-kilometre Kahama–Kakola Road, a project funded by mining operations to upgrade the route to bitumen standard. Complementing these infrastructure developments, regional leaders and business experts are advocating for increased intra-East African Community (EAC) trade. Data indicates that while total trade in 2025 reached US$156.7 billion, only approximately 12.3 per cent occurred among partner states. To address this, officials are calling for the removal of non-tariff barriers, policy predictability, and the harmonization of procedures to transform member states, such as South Sudan, into strategic manufacturing hubs. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-02: East African leaders urge increased intra-regional trade East African leaders are urging increased intra-regional trade and the removal of non-tariff barriers to boost industrialization and position member states like Uganda and South Sudan as investment hubs. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/east-african-leaders-urge-increased-intra-regional-trade ### 2026-08-22: East African governments advance regional road infrastructure projects Uganda and Tanzania are prioritizing road infrastructure through intensified monitoring in Uganda's Southern Region and accelerated construction of the Barrick-funded Kahama–Kakola road in Tanzania. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/east-african-governments-advance-regional-road-infrastructure-projects --- Cite as: East African regional economic integration efforts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/east-african-regional-economic-integration-efforts