Uganda is officially the new Chairperson of East African Community-EAC after taking over from the United Republic of Tanzania. The tenure of office of the Chairperson of the EAC is one year, held on rotational basis among the Partner States in line with Article 12 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC.
AL Hajji Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, the new Chairman of the EAC Council of Ministers, said Uganda will utilize the tenure to ensure that East African citizens see, touch and feel the tangible benefits of the regional integration.
Kivejinja said that since the operationalization of the Customs Union and Common Market protocols, Partner States have not fully allowed the citizens to enjoy the anticipated benefits. He urged that Partner States must enhance the visibility of the tangible benefits of the integration by implementing fully the Customs Union and Common Market protocols.
"At this critical period, the Council's contribution towards the regional integration process therefore cannot be overemphasized," Kivejinja told the 35th Meeting of EAC Council of Ministers which concluded yesterday at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.ols.
"Our people are still experiencing non-tariff barriers, harmonization of national laws to conform to the Protocols are still far, and popular participation in the integration process is still generally low in all the Partner States," said the Minister.
Kivejinja also reminded members of the Council on the Summit directive to the Council to present a report on Alternative Financing Mechanism including the option of 1 percent of Imports from outside the Community in line with the Principle of Financial Solidarity and Equity.
He urged the Ministers of Finance to finalize the proposal as soon as possible so that the Summit can be guided to this outstanding matter.
The outgoing Chair, Amb. Augustine Mahiga Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs, East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation, called upon the Organs and Institutions of the Community to refocus and re-engineer how to move forward the integration agenda.
"I urge them to refrain themselves from unnecessary expenditures which amount equally to wastage of taxpayers money," Mahiga said adding that there are inbuilt challenges in any regional integration schemes which need to be addressed as long as they are known.
"Generally what I can say during our tenure we came across plains, hills and valleys but all is well."
EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko expressed confidence that Uganda would steer the Council and the Community to greater height.