Former East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Amanya Mushega has challenged member states to make the regional block a better place for the citizens if they are to enjoy integration.

Mushega who is also former Uganda's education minister was speaking on Thursday morning while moderating the training workshop for Parliamentary Forum on East African Community Affairs at Speke Resort, Munyonyo.

Former East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Amanya Mushega speaking. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

He was discussing a topic on the EAC emerging issues, gains, opportunities and challenges using his experience as a former Secretary General.

President Yoweri Museveni opened the two-day training attended by Speaker of EALA Martin Ngoga, First Deputy Prime Minister and EAC minister Rebecca Kadaga and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa.

President Museveni arriving for the training workshop

President Yoweri Museveni opened the two-day training

President Yoweri Museveni opened the two-day training

Mushega said that the Community will grow steadily towards integration if the member states make the Secretariat at Arusha a centre of excellence and research.

"I am not happy that the Secretariat is being used as a centre of employment but not a centre of research. These issues of five years contract and someone goes should stop. My view is that it should be reviewed so that the Secretariat can be a think tank for the integration process," said Mushega.

(Left to right) Martin Ngoga, Speaker EALA, Rebecca Kadaga, first deputy prime minister and minister for EAC, and Prof.PLO Lumumba arriving for the workshop. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

He said that with the community increasing its membership to seven, there is a need to strengthen the regional bodies and institutions by sending technocrats and legislators who are knowledgeable.

"I am appealing to the Honorable Kadaga and her colleagues to send to the EAC the best of your best. If a person is from an organization that you don't like but can do better than your cousin, please send that person" he said.

With the jobs at the EAC Secretariat being given based on country quarters and in some instances like for Uganda the EALA representatives elected based on political party strength, the former Minister had a different view.

"Let us not use the EAC as a place of refuge. Let us send there the best of our best to improve what we have been doing. Five years are not enough for one to come and go," he added.

Concerning what needs to be done to put the region on the right path for integration, Mushega highlighted a number of steps.

Prof PLO Lumumba giving his keynote speech

These steps are; making the Community people-centred offering a good environment for private investors, increasing inter-state trade and awakening the people to embrace the ongoing processes.

In her remarks, Kadaga said that the EAC is now moving towards recruiting top technocrats based on their knowledge, skills and experience other than the usual appointments. She said this will start soon with the recruitment of Deputy Secretary Generals.

"On the quality of leaders which Mushega spoke about, we are going to appoint people on merit. We were due to appoint two deputy Secretary Generals. We have agreed to do it on merit. We are going to advertise, and countries will shortlist," said Kadaga.

First Deputy Prime Minister and EAC minister Rebecca Kadaga

The former Speaker also revealed that with Swahili being passed as a common language, Uganda's Cabinet will take the lead in taking lessons every Monday morning.

Sheema Municipality legislator Dickson Kateshumbwa who is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Forum of EAC said that there is much to do to have the 285m people benefit from the ongoing processes.

Kateshumbwa said that with the EAC combined GDP of $275b, there is a need to improve trade between the member states.

"Among the challenges, we still have none tariff barriers as a problem. We need to unlock ourselves and increase the level of trade," he stated.

He said that there is a need to move from the internal trade slogans like "Buy Uganda, Build Uganda" and related ones in Kenya and Tanzania.