EALA to sensitize Ugandans on integration

Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have embarked on a sensitization and outreach drive across member states over the role of each stakeholder in the integration process.

The team responsible for mobilizing Uganda says the move is to enhance mutual relations between the East African Community (EAC) and populations of partner states.

The EALA is an organ of the EAC established under Article 9 of the treaty for the establishment of the Community.

"Attainment of the EAC integration agenda can only be first tracked when we have all our people on board, so it is important that we mobilize them. Most of them especially at the grassroots don't know how to do cross border trade which is a very crucial aspect of the process," Chris Opoka the team leader of the sensitization program told journalists yesterday.

East African Legislative Assembly members Dora Byamukama and Mike Ssebalu addressing the media during a press Brief at the media center

The program organized under the theme, 'EAC integration Agenda: Accessing the gains' came after a rallying call by the EAC Heads of States, that EALA members should sensitize the population on the integration process and its benefits.

Opoka says, "It is more like an assignment from the summit after the heads realized that their citizens were not averse with the issues at hand and the milestones so far made."

He said the activity will be undertaken in two phases scheduled in April and May 2016, with the first phase that started April 3 being limited to the respective cities and nearby geographical locations.

East African Legislative Assembly members Dora Byamukama and Chris Opoka during a press Brief

"We are targeting institutions of high learning, the media, private sector business community and parliaments. We have set our time table in a way that will address both the 9^th and 10^th parliaments of Uganda and in the second phase we shall spread out to rural communities and tap into the grassroots," Okopa further noted.

He said the activities will focus on sensitizing citizens on the overall integration process, promote liaison with parliaments and key stakeholders and boost the mantra for integration of civil society and the private sector.

Other activities include enhancing the mutual relations and sustainable networking between EALA and the EAC populace and informing the citizens on the role of the EALA in the integration process.