DAR ES SALAAM, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli said on Saturday plans were afoot to improve transportation in Lake Victoria shared by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya to facilitate trade in the region.

"The government is assembling one vessel and repairing five others to improve transportation in the lake and subsequently stimulating economic activities," Magufuli said when he greeted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Museveni was on a one-day visit to Chato, Magufuli's native village in Tanzania's northwest region of Geita.

Magufuli said in an address broadcast live by state-owned Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) that after assembling of the ship and repairing of five others people in the three countries will be able to improve trade.

He called for improved trade between Tanzania and Uganda, saying trade volume between the two countries improved to 359 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 156 million U.S. dollars) in 2018 from 178 billion shillings in 2015.

Magufuli said the efforts to improve Dar es Salaam port were also aimed at attracting Ugandan businessmen to use the port for ferrying their goods.

He said in 2018 the port handled 188,591 tonnes of cargo destined for Uganda.

"But with the expansion of the port we hope freight volume destined for Uganda will increase," said Magufuli.

For his part, Museveni said his private visit to Tanzania amounted to making "a political pilgrimage" to the country that played a major role in the African liberation movement.

"Tanzania has left an indelible mark in the African liberation struggle. It is a Mecca of the liberation movement in Africa," said Museveni.

After the liberation struggle, said the Ugandan leader, the focus now among African countries, and particularly East African countries, should be joint economic development.

He commended President Magufuli for undertaking major projects, including construction of the standard gauge railway and the Chato airport, saying these projects were aimed at stimulating economy in the region.