DANISH PRIME MINISTER VISITS EAC

The Danish Prime Minister Hon. Helle Thorning-Schmidt today visited the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Danish Premier held talks with the Secretary General of the EAC Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera covering a variety of subjects, including implementation of the Customs Union and the Common Market protocols; negotiations for the Monetary Union protocol; EU-EAC Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and potential for renewable energy in the region, among others.

Amb. Sezibera, while welcoming Hon. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, described Denmark as “an excellent friend of the Community” which he said was growing with a functional Customs Union and a fledgling Common Market already in place, while a Monetary Union protocol is being negotiated.

“There is a sense of urgency among all of us,” the Secretary General said in affirmation of the EAC’s commitment to speeding up the integration process, expected to culminate in a Political Federation.

He informed his guest the priorities would be moving the bloc from a Customs Union to a Single Customs Territory; implementation of the Common Market; infrastructure development; implementation of the EAC Industrialization Policy; and multi-stakeholder involvement, including the private sector, civil society, women and youth.

On the Single Customs Territory, Amb. Sezibera was optimistic the EAC would be recording positive results soon.

“I expect that this year we shall reach agreement on this. That’s the priority,” he said, adding that the Single Customs Territory would significantly collapse inter-state customs borders, thereby leading to a reduction in barriers to trade in the region.

On the Common Market, the Secretary General said he looked forward to the full implementation of Common Market provisions on free movement of persons and workers, notably by harmonizing the education systems and requirements for work permits in the case of the latter. He noted that the bloc was in the process of developing a Common Market scorecard to track implementation as well as a legally binding mechanism to curtail non tariff barriers.

Amb. Sezibera also said he looked forward to the EAC collaborating with Denmark to tap the bloc’s renewable energy potential.

“This is an area of emphasis for us,” the Secretary General stated. “We want to grow and we want to grow green”. He added that renewable energy was a critical component of the region’s bid to industrialize, noting that the bloc’s energy production levels were far from adequate to if it were to realize the target of 40% contribution to Gross Domestic Product by the manufacturing sector.

He admitted, however, that the challenge for the EAC is that this is a new area and therefore one in which Denmark could provide lessons.

The Danish Prime Minister Hon. Helle Thorning-Schmidt meanwhile affirmed Denmark was “a very strong supporter of regional integration” and said her country had benefited immensely from its membership to the European Union (EU).

Hon. Thorning-Schmidt encouraged the EAC to conclude a deal with the EU on the EPAs which she said would be of benefit to both parties and “will help integrate the region into the global market.”

She asserted her country was a strong supporter of the EPAs.

Also in attendance were Dr. Mary Nagu, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office for Investment and Empowerment; EAC Deputy Secretaries General Dr. Enos Bukuku and Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva; Counsel to the Community Hon. Wilbert Kaahwa; as well as Denmark’s Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania and the to the EAC—H.E. Johnny Flentø, among others.

 Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera (L) and Hon. Thorning-Schmidt (R) during the meeting

SECRETARY GENERAL MOURNS KATEGYA

Says the late was a passionate Advocate of Regional Integration Agenda and a committed Pan Africanist

The Secretary General of the East African Community Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera has joined Ugandans and the region to mourn the death of Uganda’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs of the Republic of Uganda Rt. Hon. Eriya Kategaya that occurred on 2 March 2013 at the Nairobi Hospital.

In a condolence message sent to State House, Kampala this morning, Amb. Sezibera describes the late Eriya Kategaya as an excelled public servant who always carried himself with great dignity and humility and served the cause of Uganda with the same zeal with which he championed the cause of East African unity and development.

“He was one of the major pillars in the democratic process of Uganda and very instrumental in the revival of the East African Community in 1996, the signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community in 1999, which entered into force in 2000; and it’s launch in 2001” notes Amb. Sezibera.

The Secretary General recalls, in particular, the late Kategaya’s immense role in the negotiations of the Protocols on the Establishment of the East African Customs Union and the Common Market. “He brought his sharp legal mind to bear on the direction of the negotiations and also while chairing the EAC Council of Ministers during Uganda’s tenures. His contributions were always inspired by a sense of justice and fairness in the determination of the issues of the Community”, asserts the EAC official.  

He also recalls his immense contributions and articulation of issues pertaining to the regional integration and development process on the floor of the East African Legislative Assembly. 

The Secretary General says the late Kategaya was truly an East African and was a passionate advocate of the regional integration agenda and a committed Pan Africanist. “He always urged the Council of Ministers, as well as the regional Legislators, to look at issues from the regional perspective. Indeed, the late was a well-known figure and politician, not only in all the five Partner States, but also within the continent”.

“The late Kategaya was like an elder to the Council of Ministers. Whenever there were deadlocks in the negotiations or meetings, the Council of Ministers would always refer to the late for guidance. And he would always guide his fellow Ministers at such occasions in an impartial manner, at the same time he would strongly urge the five Partner States to move together as a bloc in the integration process” Amb. Sezibera mourns.

“Indeed, he was the current Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers. We mourn the passing of a great son of Uganda and a towering figure of our time who has left an indelible imprint on the modern history of Uganda and the East African region.

Uganda and the Community shall remain indebted to him for his dedicated service in various capacities. His life and his legacy bear witness to his love for his country and the EAC”.

 

 The late 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of The East African Community Affairs of the Republic of Uganda.

Chief Justice of Burundi officially opens EAC Bujumbura Sub-registry

The East African Court of Justice officially launched its last Sub-registry in Bujumbura, Burundi Friday 1 March 2013. The Chief Justice of the Republic of Burundi His Lordship Emmanuel Jenje, who was the Chief Guest, pledged that the Burundi judiciary and government will consistently support EACJ to raise its awareness to promote the integration agenda for mutual benefit of their people.

Hon. Jenje said that, Burundi judicially has always relentlessly offered cooperation to the East African Court of Justice and pointed out the two judges who serve at EACJ while serving at the National Court namely Hon Mr. Justice Laurent Nzosaba EACJ Appellate Division and Hon. 

Mr. Justice Jean Bosco Butasi who serves at the First Instance Division of the Court.” We have never hesitated to release them whenever the need for serving interests of the East African Court of Justice has rise” The Chief Justice asserted.

The Chief Justice expressed his great pleasure to officiate the important occasion of launching the East African Court of Justice Sub-Registry and called upon EACJ and other agencies and institution to sustain this cooperation which will embrace many areas of interest such as training programs for judge and judicial officers which will in particular administer Community laws as EAC Integration deepens.

His Lordship Jenje noted that the Sub-registry will help Burundians who wish to file cases with the East African Court to do so without the various challenges associated with filing cases in another country.  It will no longer just be hearing about ‘‘The Arusha Court’’,they will start actually seeing their “East African Community Court” among them.

The Minister in the Office of the Presidency in charge of EAC Affairs of the Republic of Burundi Hon. Leontine Nzeyimana commended the decision of the EAC Council of Ministers to allow the Court to open the Sub-registries in the Partner States. 

The Council of Ministers took this decision mindful of the fact that our Citizens today demand; that we deliver justice that they deserve; the one that is accessible, affordable, impartial and qualitative. The hope of the Council and the entire Community Is that these Sub-registries will contribute to the noble goals.” noted Hon. Nzeyimana noted.

 She added that the sub-registry will assist those who feel aggrieved by laws or decisions that seem to violate the East African Community Treaty and hence undermine the goals and objectives of integration, and who wish to have a determination of the EACJ and hopefully a remedial decision of the Court.

Hon. Nzeyimana underscored that to have Sub-registries within the Member States is even greater because the role of the regional Court is expanding in response to the Community becoming more People centered and market driven. The operationlization of Common Market Protocol will certainly create more demand of for Judicial Services within the Member States hence the Sub-registries shall cater to a bigger workload enabling the EACJ to function efficiently and effectively.

EACJ Judge President Hon. Harold Nsekela also informed the delegates that several milestones in the Court and development process were been achieved and the Court expect to see and realize more tangible benefits of the integration to our people in the coming years. He also told the Burundi residents that the Court has abolished the Court fees and it’s in the process of gazetting the rules.

Hon. Nsekela also reminded the natural and legal person who come to the Court under Article 30 of the Treaty to respect the time limitation of two months imposed for the aggrieved person have known the act.

The ceremony was witnessed among others the President of the Constitutional Court of Burundi, Hon. Lady Justice Christine Nzeyimana, Judges, and Members of EALA Burundi Chapter, Members of the Legal institutions, Media and other stake holders.

  

Chief Justice His Lordship Emmanuel Jenje (R) EACJ Judge President Hon. Mr. Harold Nsekela (C) and EACJ Deputy Registrar Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza (L) open Sub-registry in Bujumbura Burundi.

KENYA’S CHIEF JUSTICE ASSURES EAC-COMESA-IGAD ELECTION OBSERVERS OF JUDICIARY’S PREPAREDNESS FOR ANY POST ELECTION PETITIONS IN NON-PARTISAN MANNER

Kenya’s Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga has assured the East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and Inter-Governmental Authority in Development (IGAD) Election Observer Missions to the 4^th March 2013 Kenya General Elections that the judiciary was ready and well prepared to handle the forthcoming elections including related disputes that may arise.

The Chief Justice, who was this morning meeting the leaders of EAC-COMESA-IGAD Election Observer Missions; Hon. Abdulrahman Kinana; Amb. Simbi Veke Mubako; and Amb. Dr. Berhane Ghebray respectively, in his office in Nairobi, said the Judiciary would deal with election disputes impartially and efficiently and that 114 judges and 436 magistrates would handle any disputes that may arise, to ensure that petitions are heard and determined in a speedy manner.

“We are fully prepared and organized to deal with any number and manner of disputes that may arise from these elections in an independent, non-partisan, and efficient way,” he said. The Chief Justice said that the judiciary was above any form of bias and that they would uphold the spirit of the Constitution to the letter.

“These elections will usher in a new governance structure not experienced before by Kenyans. It is, therefore, a time for our national institutions, beginning with the Judiciary, but encompassing the Executive, to work in harmony to ensure elections are fair and credible,” he said.

Dr. Mutunga informed his guests that it was very calming to see a lot of foreign and local observers following the Kenya elections. “I have never seen such an election in the country with huge investment and goodwill purposely to ensure it (election) is free, fair and peaceful” asserted the Chief Justice. 

The leaders of the Observer Missions hailed the Chief Justice for the well preparedness of the Judiciary. “We are happy with the arrangements and all points to the direction that you are on top of things” concurred all the three Heads of Missions.

On Thursday 28 February, 2013, the joint missions had audience with the Kenya Inspector General of Police Mr. David Kimaiyo; Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service, Mr. Francis T. Kimemia; Chairman of National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Mr. Mzalendo N. Kibunjia; and a Presidential aspirant, Ms Martha Karua. The discussions centered on the elections and related issues. The meetings largely welcomed the presence of the joint EAC-COMESA-IGAD missions’ presence at the polls.

INFRASTUCTURE IS THE BIGGEST NTB IN THE EAC REGION

The Secretary General of the East African Community Amb Dr. Richard Sezibera has said in order to compete in the global market with goods from countries such as China and Ethiopia, the EAC region need to cut down energy and transport costs.

Speaking at the Uganda Manufacturing Association Luncheon this afternoon,  Amb. Sezibera noted that manufacturing offers a wide range of opportunities in the EAC Partner States and the Heads of States across the region have always expressed commitment to the development of the sector in the micro, small and medium sized enterprises.

The EAC Chief informed the manufacturers that according to the EAC Facts and Figures 2012, the share of the manufacturing sector to GDP registered marginal changes in 2011. Burundi registered the highest share of 13.4 percent up from 12.8 the previous year followed by Tanzania 9.3 percent up from 9.0 previous year.

The Secretary General added that Uganda registered 8.5 percent up from 7.6 in 2010, and Rwanda 6.6 percent down from 7.0 in 2010 while Kenya registered with 9.4 down from 9.9 in 2010.

Amb. Sezibera reiterated that for manufacturing sector to prosper there was need for the stakeholders including the government and private sector players to work on ways to give the domestic industrial sector a new lease of life.

He called u[pon local manufacturers to take advantage of the several opportunities popping up as EAC integrates deeper especially in areas that include the pharmaceuticals, beverage production, vehicle spare-parts production and assembling among others.

‘’I am happy to report that several projects aimed at building a reliable transport and power supply capacity across the region are currently underway’’. ‘’ I am also glad to inform you that the EAC has a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan of Action,2012-2016 which guides the Partner States towards evolving an efficient and effective pharmaceutical manufacturing industry’’.

The Secretary General acknowledged the challenges pertaining to the manufacturing sector and called for more efforts to overcome them. He noted the continued growth of counterfeits that erode investor earnings while chipping away at factory jobs as companies scale down operations from market share lost to the illegal goods.

Amb. Sezibera informed his audience that EAC Partner states were expected to come up with strategies for formalizing the inter-agency approach at the EAC regional level in order to establish a legal and regulatory framework for the protection of Intellectual Property and the elimination of counterfeit products.

In attendance were Uganda’s State Minister for Trade and Cooperative Hon. David Wakikona, Members of Diplomatic Corps, Members of Uganda Manufacturing Association, Members of Parliament and the Media.

 

EAC-COMESA-IGAD ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS’ LEADERS MEET IEBC OFFICIALS

 The leaders of the Joint East African Community (EAC)-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)-Inter-Governmental Authority in Development (IGAD) Election Observer Missions to the 4th March 2013 Kenya General Elections today paid a working visit to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices in Nairobi, Kenya.

Amb. Dr. Berhane Ghebray, leader of IGAD Mission; Amb. Simbi Veke Mubako, the leader of COMESA Mission; and the leader of the EAC Election Observer Mission, Hon. Abdulrahman Kinana held talks with the IEBC Chairman Mr. Ahmed Isaac Hassan. The Vice Chairperson Mrs. Lilian Mahiri-Zaja and the CEO and Commission Secretary Mr. James Humphrey Obanda Oswago respectively were present.

The IEBC Chairman briefed the mission leaders on the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming elections including the voting simulation conducted countrywide on Sunday, February 24, 2013 and affirmed that the Electoral body was well prepared for the task. He said the Commission has drawn vital lessons from the simulation exercise and was working on areas, which require some improvement. 

“The IEBC has been tried and tested in the management of elections, there is nothing to worry about”. He assured the Team and the Kenyan people that the elections would be conducted in a peaceful, free and fair atmosphere and urged people not to worry but go out in large numbers to cast their ballots on the Election Day Monday.

The Chairman urged the contenders to urge their supporters to maintain peace and order during the elections, accept the results and if not satisfied to challenge the results using the official and legal means.

The Chairman hailed the joint EAC-COMESA-IGAD Observer Mission saying “their presence will definitely contribute to the promotion of democracy and governance in Kenya.

The leaders of the Missions expressed gratitude to Chairman of IEBC for the invitation to take part in the elections observation, which they said demonstrated confidence in the regional economic communities in working together with the Kenyans to ensure that they conduct peaceful elections. They informed the IEBC officials that the three RECs were deploying a joint 78 observers to different counties throughout Kenya.

Amb. Dr. Berhane Ghebray, leader of IGAD Mission, said the joint mission was not only observing the elections but was also a goodwill mission to the people of Kenya.

Amb. Simbi Veke Mubako, leader of COMESA Mission, applauded the IEBC for the preparedness of the elections.

The leader of the EAC Election Observer Mission, Hon. Abdulrahman Kinana, contended that the joint Mission would give the people of Kenya an opportunity to freely choose leaders of their choice and that the observation would promote transparency and reinforce the integrity and legitimacy of the electoral process.

Hon. Kinana was happy to note that the IEBC had put in place a robust mechanism to ensure transmission of results from the polling centers were done through a secure system and that several back-up security measures were also in place.

He noted that since the forthcoming elections were under a new constitution and different political dispensation, some hiccups were inevitable but “we believe that everything has been done to ensure maximum success in the polls”. “I have full faith in IEBC’s ability to ensure free and fair elections” affirmed Hon. Kinana, who was the First Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

The Leaders of the Missions wished the people of Kenya peaceful and violence-free elections.

 Agreement Signed to Establish Pan-EAC Financial Service Providers' Council

A Memorandum of Agreement on the collaboration amongst the EAC Financial Services Providers has been signed at a meeting of the Pan-EAC Financial Services Providers that was organized by the EAC Secretariat in Protea Countryard Hotel in Dar es Saalam, Tanzania on 25th – 27th February, 2013. The meeting was attended by representatives from banking, insurance, pensions, capital markets, Savings banks and microfinance sectors.

The established Pan-EAC Financial Services Providers’ Council shall comprise of the following: East African Insurers’ Association, East African Bankers’ Association, East African Securities Exchange Association, Stock Brokers’ Associations, East Africa Microfinance Network, Association of Savings Banks for East Africa, the East and Central Africa Social Security Association and any other Financial Sector National Organizations.

The establishment of the Pan-EAC Council is in response to the advancements made in the financial sector in developing products that are beneficial to the integration process (including mobile money transfers, cross-border banking, among others) and in recognition of the efforts so far undertaken by the Partner States in facilitating the national business associations to establish their presence at a regional level. 

Overall, the Pan-EAC Council aims at achieving development and integration of the financial sector within the region, improving trade amongst Partner States and ensuring access of financial services to all within the EAC region. The objectives of the Pan-EAC Council include, but are not limited to: making contribution to the development of the regional financial sector policy formulation, fostering participation in discussion / reviews of policy/ regulatory frameworks relating to  the financial sector.

In his opening remarks, the EAC DSG (F&I), Dr. Enos Bukuku recognized the vital role played by the Financial Sector Providers in championing the aspirations of the Common Market Protocol through inclusion and strengthening of Market Participants and ensuring improved service delivery as well as diversifying innovation of products. 

He implored members of the forum to strengthen their capacity to operate and develop the already established regional financial cooperation frameworks under the umbrella support of the EAC Financial Sector Development and Regionalisation Project (FSDRP) more effectively in order to reduce the effects of overlapping of agendas due to the diversification of national forums.

Dr. Bukuku, who witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, was accompanied by the EAC Director of Planning, Mr. Tharcisse Kadede, the Project Manager-FSDRP, Ms. Angela Katama and the FSDRP Resource Mobilization Specialist, Mr. Godfrey Kazinduka.

 Dr. Bukuku shaking hands with Mr. Habil Olaka, Chairperson of the Pan-EAC Financial Services Providers Council while Mr. Stephen Mukweli (Managing Director, PostBank Uganda) who chaired the meeting looks on.

 REGIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL’S CEO FORUM HELD IN KAMPALA

The Regional East African Community Secretary General’s Private Sector Chief Executive Officers Forum was held today in Kampala, Uganda, where the EAC chief announced a variety of initiatives to promote private-sector involvement in EAC integration and to improve the region’s business climate.

At the Forum that brought together more than 100 CEOs of businesses from all the five EAC Partner States, EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera stated plans to tackle challenges to doing business through a sectoral approach, starting with the manufacturing sector.

“Together with key stakeholders [we] have agreed to focus on the manufacturing sector. We expect that this will give [sector] captains the confidence and venue to continue to articulate issues affecting the sector as well as providing policy review suggestions,” Amb. Sezibera said, emphasizing the need to raise the contribution of manufacturing to the region’s Gross Domestic Product from the current 10% to 40%.

The Secretary General also confirmed the bloc was about to conclude a Public-Private Partnership Framework, which is expected to go a long way in enhancing private sector participation in public enterprises.

“The proposed framework will facilitate private sector participation in public enterprises with a regional dimension particularly in industrial and infrastructure projects,” he remarked.

In the one year since the Forum was launched via national editions, the Secretary General has met with CEOs from all five Partner States and during today’s meeting in Kampala, he spoke proudly of the successes recorded so far.

“We have seen commendable improvement on a number of institutional reforms in the Partner States and adaptations of domestic laws related to the Common Market Protocol,” Amb. Sezibera observed, adding: “We have also seen more than 36 non tariff barriers to trade resolved”.

The East African Business Council (EABC) chairperson, Hon. Gerald Ssendaula, who also lauded the initiative, observed that EAC is an attractive proposition to both the private sector and government, but one that “can only be vibrant if the environment we are operating is conducive to trade and business”. EABC is the apex body for businesses in the region.

Meanwhile the TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) CEO Mr. Frank Matsaert affirmed his organization is very much committed to supporting pragmatic solutions to challenges faced by the EAC in its integration agenda.

The Regional Secretary General's CEO Forum discussed among others recommendations from the national forums as well as prospects for the planned EAC-USA Commercial Dialogue, before concluding with an agreement on the key issues of concern the East African business community want addressed. Their recommendations, once ratified by national private sector apex bodies, will be forwarded to the EAC Summit of Heads of State, the top Organ of the Community.

The main objective of the SG CEO Forum is to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the EAC Secretary General and the business community on how to improve the EAC integration process and business climate in order to increase economic growth and development.

The SG CEO Forum which is comprised of five national forums and one regional forum held annually is organized by the EAC Secretariat in partnership with the East African Business Council and TradeMark East Africa.

Hon. Leontine Nzeyimana, Burundi’s Minister for EAC, as well as the US Ambassador to Uganda His Excellency Scott Delisi were among the government dignitaries who attended the meeting.

  EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera

 

The Danish Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Johnny Flento on 22 February 2013  paid a working visit to the EAC Secretariat and held discussions with the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Hon. Jesca Eriyo.

The discussions between the Deputy Secretary General and her guest centered on EAC-Denmark relations and the forthcoming visit by the Danish Prime Minister Hon. Helle Thorning Schmidt to the EAC Secretariat on 8 March 2013. 

HE Johnny Flento (left) and Hon. Jesca Eriyo during the meeting in Arusha on Friday 22 February 2013  22 February 2013 y