EAC MPs have done a great job
Jul 16, 2006
ECONOMIC globalisation has generated an ever-increasing number of regional blocs, including the East African Community (EAC), fuelled by the conviction that larger entities can better survive and thrive in harsh competition.
By Ovonji Odida
ECONOMIC globalisation has generated an ever-increasing number of regional blocs, including the East African Community (EAC), fuelled by the conviction that larger entities can better survive and thrive in harsh competition.
As elected representatives of the people and the link between the governance organs of the EAC and key stakeholders, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has a strategic role. Its job in the next five years (with common market and political federation negotiations) will be increasingly complex.
EALA will need to build bridges between East Africans, conviction about our diverse and rich potential, and commitment to working out conflicts and fairly sharing the integration dividend. Through this, it should equip East Africans to survive in the context of hostile globalisation and mobilise EAC to position itself better for global competitiveness.
Annually since 2002, EALA has done outreach throughout the region, meeting key stakeholders and selling regional integration. These working tours have reached far-flung corners of East Africa, like Tunduma and Tukuyu straddling Tanzania’s borders with Zambia and Malawi, hugging the beautiful mountains of Mbeya. In 2003 we met stakeholders in several parts of western Uganda including pastoralists in Bukanga expelled from Tanzania. In late 2005 we went to Kenya’s arid north eastern province – frontier territory hugging Somalia and Ethiopia – hopping from Marsabit, to Moyale, Isiolo to Lokichogi meeting pastoralist communities to better understand their challenges but also their potential in areas like leather industry.
I recall how May 2003 found 20 or so EALA members, led by the Speaker, in Gulu talking peace. We had a morning session with President Museveni in Gulu barracks accompanied by area MPs, met IDPs in Pabbo camp, formerly abducted children at GUSCO, trauma victims in Lacor Hospital, and political and opinion leaders in the Town Hall. The evolving consensus was for a regional initiative, including an EAC Summit of Presidents together with Council and Assembly in Paraa as the President suggested. As a member of the Regional Affairs Committee doing follow-up diplomacy to high level officials in charge of defense, security and foreign affairs to build support for regional solutions to conflicts, I have found the need for delicate balancing between sovereignty and integration.
This experience underscores the unique contribution regional parliaments can make to peace building when they are neutral, honest brokers. Between 2004-5 EALA carried out three fact-finding missions on conflicts in the region – on cross-border fishing disputes on L. Victoria which I chaired, expulsion of Ugandan pastoralists from Tanzania to southern Uganda chaired by a Tanzanian, and cattle rustling in the Karamoja cluster chaired by Hon. Kawamara. The constant message from wananchi in conflict areas was, ‘Without peace, there can be no development; without development, there can be no peace’.
The joint report adopted by EALA on ‘Natural Resource Based Conflict in East Africa’ in November, 2005 highlights the causal factors at national, regional and international level and socio-economic, legal and environmental dimensions to conflict in the EAC.
Follow up work begun in May 2006 will lead to a regional meeting in Uganda soon, to institute a regional mechanism for coordinating and monitoring conflict resolution.
Preparatory meetings we began in Kampala, Nairobi and Dodoma with ministers, national Speakers, parliamentary committees, technocrats and civil society have been encouraging, but this is only the beginning. As work continues on EAC issues all East Africans – particularly leaders – should seriously address why EA integration is fundamental for our survival, the obstacles to achieving it, and the roles of national and regional leaders in building one East Africa.
The writer is EALA MP from Uganda
ECONOMIC globalisation has generated an ever-increasing number of regional blocs, including the East African Community (EAC), fuelled by the conviction that larger entities can better survive and thrive in harsh competition.
As elected representatives of the people and the link between the governance organs of the EAC and key stakeholders, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has a strategic role. Its job in the next five years (with common market and political federation negotiations) will be increasingly complex.
EALA will need to build bridges between East Africans, conviction about our diverse and rich potential, and commitment to working out conflicts and fairly sharing the integration dividend. Through this, it should equip East Africans to survive in the context of hostile globalisation and mobilise EAC to position itself better for global competitiveness.
Annually since 2002, EALA has done outreach throughout the region, meeting key stakeholders and selling regional integration. These working tours have reached far-flung corners of East Africa, like Tunduma and Tukuyu straddling Tanzania’s borders with Zambia and Malawi, hugging the beautiful mountains of Mbeya. In 2003 we met stakeholders in several parts of western Uganda including pastoralists in Bukanga expelled from Tanzania. In late 2005 we went to Kenya’s arid north eastern province – frontier territory hugging Somalia and Ethiopia – hopping from Marsabit, to Moyale, Isiolo to Lokichogi meeting pastoralist communities to better understand their challenges but also their potential in areas like leather industry.
I recall how May 2003 found 20 or so EALA members, led by the Speaker, in Gulu talking peace. We had a morning session with President Museveni in Gulu barracks accompanied by area MPs, met IDPs in Pabbo camp, formerly abducted children at GUSCO, trauma victims in Lacor Hospital, and political and opinion leaders in the Town Hall. The evolving consensus was for a regional initiative, including an EAC Summit of Presidents together with Council and Assembly in Paraa as the President suggested. As a member of the Regional Affairs Committee doing follow-up diplomacy to high level officials in charge of defense, security and foreign affairs to build support for regional solutions to conflicts, I have found the need for delicate balancing between sovereignty and integration.
This experience underscores the unique contribution regional parliaments can make to peace building when they are neutral, honest brokers. Between 2004-5 EALA carried out three fact-finding missions on conflicts in the region – on cross-border fishing disputes on L. Victoria which I chaired, expulsion of Ugandan pastoralists from Tanzania to southern Uganda chaired by a Tanzanian, and cattle rustling in the Karamoja cluster chaired by Hon. Kawamara. The constant message from wananchi in conflict areas was, ‘Without peace, there can be no development; without development, there can be no peace’.
The joint report adopted by EALA on ‘Natural Resource Based Conflict in East Africa’ in November, 2005 highlights the causal factors at national, regional and international level and socio-economic, legal and environmental dimensions to conflict in the EAC.
Follow up work begun in May 2006 will lead to a regional meeting in Uganda soon, to institute a regional mechanism for coordinating and monitoring conflict resolution.
Preparatory meetings we began in Kampala, Nairobi and Dodoma with ministers, national Speakers, parliamentary committees, technocrats and civil society have been encouraging, but this is only the beginning. As work continues on EAC issues all East Africans – particularly leaders – should seriously address why EA integration is fundamental for our survival, the obstacles to achieving it, and the roles of national and regional leaders in building one East Africa.
The writer is EALA MP from Uganda