President Yoweri Museveni has this afternoon delivered his address to EALA at a Special Sitting held at the Parliament of Uganda in Kampala, Uganda. In the Address, President Museveni reiterated the need for the region to resolve existing strategic bottlenecks if the EAC is to spur integration and to enable citizens enjoy the accrued benefits. He said such a move would see the region move from economic integration to political integration.
The President thus directed the EALA to be advocates of integration by sensitising citizens of the region.
The President’s speech delved into strategic bottlenecks which he termed destructive to regional integration. He cited tribal, religious and gender ideological disorientations, lack of viable pillars in the judicial and defence sectors leading to collapse of state authority, attacks on the Private Sector initiatives and under-development of human resources and skills. Other challenges include an under-developed service sector, lack of industrialisation and lack of democracy.
‘What is necessary is an organised state with the institutional structures and the effective address of existing bottlenecks’, he remarked. We need to organise ourselves and take our rightful place and new chance’, President Museveni, noted, citing the emergence of new powerhouses like India, China, Indonesia and Brazil which he maintained had taken advantage of opportunities. ‘The African continent has potential but it must organise itself’, the Head of State remarked.
The President was categorical that such a move would ensure that Africa taps into further economic growth and enables a stronger voice in the international arena. In the regard, the Head of State cited the need to harness energy and electricity for development. He reminded the legislators that Africa’s Kilowatt per capita was extremely low.
“Uganda has 150 kilowatt hour per capita compared to South Africa and Libya which are edging closer to 42,000 Kilowatt hour per capita. Japan produces 270,000 kilowatt hour per capita and more action is necessary on our part,’ President Museveni said.
The President in essence, told the EAC to strive to solve what he called ‘the basic yet fundamental challenges’ dogging the bloc as it moves towards the tactical areas. He remarked that social transformation was taking place and this was creating new meaning for the world economy. The new economic order is positive, he remarked.
The President maintained that it was time for the region to eye political unity as a stabilising factor to development and called on the EALA to use its legislative agenda and mandate to support the same. EALA can assist the region to attain the much needed Political Federation. A key task of EALA should be to sensitise East Africans in addition to ensuring further integration of EAC through the provisions of the Treaty.
He called on EALA to enhance oversight of the projects and programmes of the Community and hailed the Assembly for realising a year in Office and for passing relevant Bills, key to the integration process.
President Museveni maintained that colonisation of Africa by the small European countries resulted from them (countries) been better organised.’ Look at Portugal, Italy, Holland and France. They are smaller but better organised. The fact that we were colonised was not good. Our ancestors did not defeat the invaders’ he noted to the applause of legislators.
The Head of State affirmed that during his tenure as the Chairperson of the Summit, he would prioritise on implementation of the Treaty. I would like to ensure the Non-Tariff Barriers are completely removed to enable the region to take its flight to the next level.
President Museveni mentioned that he had held dialogue with the Heads of State of China and Russia among others on investing in infrastructure. He cited some of the initiatives as the upgrade of the Dar-Kigoma, Dar-Isaka roads and the rail lines from Hanga to Rwanda, Kisangani – Juba lines among others.
The Chair of the Summit noted that the EAC integration was the most progressive and with the brightest future since it aims for a key ultimate stage which is the political integration.On Kiswahili, the Head of State said he would work towards the establishment of the East African Kiswahili Commission to spur the use of Kiswahili as the lingua franca of the region.
In attendance was the Rt. Hon. Rebecca KAAYA, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda and Hon Shem Bageine, Chairperson, EAC Council of Ministers. Others were the EAC Secretary General, Amb Richard Sezibera, former Minister in the US, Rose Whittaker, several dignitaries and high ranking government officials.
On her part, the Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon. Margaret Nantongo Zziwa congratulated President Yoweri Museveni and noted that it was necessary for stakeholders to contribute to the integration process. ‘Undoubtedly, strengthening integration is vital and it is necessary that East Africa tackles the structural inequalities that hamper integration; by removing all Non-Tariff Barriers; by investing in implementation of the pillars of integration; by advancing and adhering to the enforcement of the decision(s) arrived at and by ensuring that all citizens can live, work and worship in peace’ the Speaker noted.
She called for speedy address of the existing structural bottlenecks in the region. Citing the recent World Bank Doing Business 2013 Report the Speaker noted a number of positive strengths and highlighted areas in trade that are need to spur confidence in the economic bloc if the EAC is to maintain and sustain its competitive edge.
‘The challenges highlighted in the Report which include the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers, and the corresponding reduction in costs of doing business are very much the same ones that we in EALA would like to see addressed and tangible solutions sought’ Speaker Zziwa noted.
She remarked that more was required to be done to realise the Common Market Protocol and called on the Partner States to immediately enable their domestic laws to conform to the Protocol.‘We must fervently implement the Common Market Protocol.
The Protocol which was signed three years ago spells out a number of benefits for the region including the free movement of persons, labour, goods and services among others. However, in reality, we have not yet achieved the level of free movement of people, goods and investment that those measures envisaged. Your Excellency as Chair of the Summit, we appeal to you to reach to your colleagues to guide, direct and supervise over the said Protocol’ the EALA Speaker added.
The Speaker maintained that the region was on the verge of embracing the Monetary Union noting that the next five months would be crucial to the integration process.‘In less than 5 months time, the region shall enter into the Monetary Union. Your Excellency, the Summit set up November 30, 2013 as the day for entry into the third tier of integration. This shall be a unique opportunity for the EAC to usher in the common currency and harmonization of the macro-economic policies of the Partner States. Incrementally, as we progress into the next tier of integration, it is vital that we strive to resolve the insurmountable challenges in both the customs union and the Common Market Protocols’ the Speaker added.
The Speaker congratulated H.E. Museveni for steering Uganda through the times. ‘Last year, Uganda celebrated 50 years of Independence and with it a number of positives in the long dispensation to progressive development. It now has a steady economic growth and is a peaceful country. Your leadership has brought relative stability and economic growth to a country that endured decades of government mismanagement, rebel activity and civil war. Further, your government has played a key role in ensuring the return to rule of law’ the Speaker remarked.
In his remarks culminating in the vote of thanks, Hon Christophe Bazivamo hailed the President for the address which he noted, was progressive. He termed President Museveni as a Pan-Africanist par excellence and for his role in conflict resolution in the continent.
‘We as EALA shall try our level best to fulfil our mandate. We shall not let you down in our endeavour’, he concluded.
The Plenary which has been taking place in Uganda since May 26, 2013, winds up business tomorrow.
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For more information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
