Kikwete calls for joint EAC defence
Nov 25, 2006
The East African (EAC) countries have proposed a defence pact to jointly fight off external aggression on any of them.
By Anne Mugisa and Steven Candia
The East African (EAC) countries have proposed a defence pact to jointly fight off external aggression on any of them.
Visiting Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said this yesterday while addressing senior military officers at Kimaka in Jinja.
The officers at the college are from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Kikwete, delivering a lecture on the East African federation, said, “Soon we shall have a defence pact so that if one country is attacked, it will be assumed that all the three have been attacked and would have to fight back.â€
He said defence forces are an important part of the fast-tracking to the federation to which, he said, Tanzania was committed.
He said the federation would bring about geo-political strength and bigger markets.
He said the EAC was destroyed in 1977 because of the turbulence in Uganda caused by Idi Amin. He said Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya want to “ensure that everybody is taken along.â€
Kikwete, who was with his host President Yoweri Museveni, inspected a UPDF guard of honour on arrival. He planted an Ekitafiire fruit tree at the college.
At a State banquet at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Thursday, Kikwete said the East African integration project shows “East Africans’ desire for freedom from territorial imprisonment.â€
“The people of Tanzania are happy with the process and the progress. Our desire is to see things move much faster,†Kikwete said.
He lauded Museveni for enabling the Juba peace process and great achievements for Uganda.
He said Museveni’s tenacity and courage had resulted in the current peace being experienced in northern Uganda.
Kikwete said Museveni’s personal sacrifices have contributed to Uganda’s rising from “the ruins and ashes of despairâ€.
Museveni said praised Tanzania for standing steadfast with the people of Uganda in time of need.
The banquet was held in honour of Kikwete and his wife Salma, by Museveni and his wife Janet.
Former Mozambique head Joachim Chissano, Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and the NRM vice-chairman Moses Kigongo attended.
Museveni described former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere as one of the greatest black men ever.
He said Nyerere supported Ugandans in their fight against dictator Idi Amin and in the NRM struggle.
He said Mozambicans, Tanzanians and Zambians all supported Ugandans.
He said the East African common market was a big attraction for foreign direct investments.
President Museveni cited the Chinese whom he said have a big population and market.
The East African (EAC) countries have proposed a defence pact to jointly fight off external aggression on any of them.
Visiting Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said this yesterday while addressing senior military officers at Kimaka in Jinja.
The officers at the college are from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Kikwete, delivering a lecture on the East African federation, said, “Soon we shall have a defence pact so that if one country is attacked, it will be assumed that all the three have been attacked and would have to fight back.â€
He said defence forces are an important part of the fast-tracking to the federation to which, he said, Tanzania was committed.
He said the federation would bring about geo-political strength and bigger markets.
He said the EAC was destroyed in 1977 because of the turbulence in Uganda caused by Idi Amin. He said Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya want to “ensure that everybody is taken along.â€
Kikwete, who was with his host President Yoweri Museveni, inspected a UPDF guard of honour on arrival. He planted an Ekitafiire fruit tree at the college.
At a State banquet at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Thursday, Kikwete said the East African integration project shows “East Africans’ desire for freedom from territorial imprisonment.â€
“The people of Tanzania are happy with the process and the progress. Our desire is to see things move much faster,†Kikwete said.
He lauded Museveni for enabling the Juba peace process and great achievements for Uganda.
He said Museveni’s tenacity and courage had resulted in the current peace being experienced in northern Uganda.
Kikwete said Museveni’s personal sacrifices have contributed to Uganda’s rising from “the ruins and ashes of despairâ€.
Museveni said praised Tanzania for standing steadfast with the people of Uganda in time of need.
The banquet was held in honour of Kikwete and his wife Salma, by Museveni and his wife Janet.
Former Mozambique head Joachim Chissano, Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and the NRM vice-chairman Moses Kigongo attended.
Museveni described former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere as one of the greatest black men ever.
He said Nyerere supported Ugandans in their fight against dictator Idi Amin and in the NRM struggle.
He said Mozambicans, Tanzanians and Zambians all supported Ugandans.
He said the East African common market was a big attraction for foreign direct investments.
President Museveni cited the Chinese whom he said have a big population and market.