President Yoweri Museveni today opened the third meeting of the fifth session of the second East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Parliament of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda. In his speech laced with historical anecdotes, President Museveni called for the political integration of the region terming it inevitable and the most rational vehicle for strengthening the regional economic bloc.
“In addition to economic integration, integrating politically offers equilibrium in that it transforms the inequalities in the Partner States into equalities in the region,” President Museveni said.
The President mentioned that economic integration in absence of a Political Federation could weaken integration.
“In the European Union today, we see the various challenges arising from a purely economic integration model. Such may have been strengthened by having political unity as well,” President Museveni remarked.
President Museveni reiterated the need for strengthening of the Common Market noting it had the potential of opening markets and enabling access to all players.
“The Common Market is vital as it shall consolidate trade in the region, accessibility and free movement in addition to the other investments,” President Museveni added.
The Head of State recalled that the re-establishment of the EAC over a decade ago by the forefathers, their Excellencies Daniel Arap Moi, Al-Hajj Ali Hassan Mwinyi and himself was borne out of the need and desire to restore and foster regional integration.
“I am elated that Burundi and Rwanda also joined the EAC and we are forward moving together,r” President Museveni said. The President said the re-establishment of the EAC was incomplete without the entry of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, whom he termed part of the colonial trading area that is the EAC we have today. “On the contrary, the Europeans did not invent the phenomenal trading area that is East Africa today but we have always had a common historical destiny that included both Congo and South Sudan,” President Museveni said.
The President noted that the region had everything to gain from uniting as opposed to operating individually. President Museveni also told the region to take advantage of Kiswahili which he said was a unifying factor in the integration dispensation.
In his welcoming remarks, the Speaker of EALA, Hon. Abdirahin Abdi, hailed President Museveni and the citizens of the Republic of Uganda for exuding the East African spirit and their steadfast contribution to the realization of the objectives of the Community.
“As the Assembly reflects on some of the achievements recorded, it would not have been possible without your individual support,” Hon Abdi said, noting that President Museveni was the first Head of State to address the Assembly in February 2002, two months after its inception.
In the same vein, President Museveni delivered the first State of EAC Address to the Assembly, a legacy that has now been entrenched in the Annual Legislative calendar of the Assembly, the Speaker added.
He hailed the Summit of the Heads of State for continuing to offer wisdom and support towards the EAC in realising the pillars of the integrative process.
The EALA Speaker noted the importance of harnessing resources by using home grown solutions as vital in the economy.
“I congratulate you and the people of Uganda upon the discovery of oil in Uganda and for ensuring Uganda professionals take the lead in the refinery of the resource,” Rt Hon Abdi said, while appreciating the government’s open debate regarding the all important sector.
The Speaker lauded Uganda’s efforts to industrialise and termed the recent manufacture of the first car in Uganda a novelty. “I congratulate Uganda’s scientists for exploring new technologies,” the Speaker added.
Rt. Hon Abdi expressed gratitude to President Museveni for his government’s support to EALA over the years.
Over the next two weeks, a number of Bills are expected to be debated by EALA. They include three Bills namely:
- Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) Bill (2nd and 3rd Reading)
- The EAC Transboundary Ecosystems Bill (3rd Reading)
- The East African Community Polythene Materials Control Bill 2011 (2nd and 3rd Reading)
Various motions, reports as well as resolutions deepening and widening the integration agenda are also to be moved and adopted at the two week plenary.
EALA Member Hon. Catherine Kimura moved a vote of thanks applauding President Museveni and the Parliament of Uganda for the continuous support to EALA. Hon Kimura thanked President Museveni for fulfilling the presidential address and noted the content which was vital had been educative with important historical perspectives. “The speech today was relevant and insightful. It did address the issue of Political Federation a topical issue that EALA considers worthy,” Hon Kimura said.
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For more information, contact Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly, Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103, Cell: +255787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org, Web: https://www.eala.org
