Govts frustrating EAC intergration
Governments are frustrating the quick integration of the East African Community (EAC), Beatrice Kiraso, the deputy secretary general in charge of political federation, has said.
By Catherine Bekunda
Governments are frustrating the quick integration of the East African Community (EAC), Beatrice Kiraso, the deputy secretary general in charge of political federation, has said.
“We have made several good policies but the governments have failed to implement and enforce them thus rendering us irrelevant sometimes,†Kiraso said.
She was recently speaking at a dialogue on regional integration and social economic transformation in East Africa at Hotel Protea in Kampala.
Kiraso disclosed that at the recent consultation meetings throughout the five EAC states, Uganda’s National Resistance Movement and Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapenduzi ruling party did not turn up despite having chapters on the political federation in their party manifestos.
However, she is optimistic that the integration process is on course, owing to the way member states are harmonising certain provisions in their constitutions, democratic and electoral processes.
“We are operating in limited space which can easily be dominated and manipulated, but with integration, we will be able to confront all issues affecting us,†Kiraso assured participants.
Vincent De Visscher, the head of the European Union Delegation to Uganda, applauded the steps being taken by the EAC states and noted that regional integration is vital for development.
“It leads to predictable market, increased investment flows and thus bringing about socio-economic development and transformation,†he said.
De Visscher emphasised the need for good political will to achieve the desired goal of both the monetary union and political federation.
Governments are frustrating the quick integration of the East African Community (EAC), Beatrice Kiraso, the deputy secretary general in charge of political federation, has said.
“We have made several good policies but the governments have failed to implement and enforce them thus rendering us irrelevant sometimes,†Kiraso said.
She was recently speaking at a dialogue on regional integration and social economic transformation in East Africa at Hotel Protea in Kampala.
Kiraso disclosed that at the recent consultation meetings throughout the five EAC states, Uganda’s National Resistance Movement and Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapenduzi ruling party did not turn up despite having chapters on the political federation in their party manifestos.
However, she is optimistic that the integration process is on course, owing to the way member states are harmonising certain provisions in their constitutions, democratic and electoral processes.
“We are operating in limited space which can easily be dominated and manipulated, but with integration, we will be able to confront all issues affecting us,†Kiraso assured participants.
Vincent De Visscher, the head of the European Union Delegation to Uganda, applauded the steps being taken by the EAC states and noted that regional integration is vital for development.
“It leads to predictable market, increased investment flows and thus bringing about socio-economic development and transformation,†he said.
De Visscher emphasised the need for good political will to achieve the desired goal of both the monetary union and political federation.