EAC integration nationwide campaign launched

By Cecilia Okoth & Clare Muhindo

The ministry of East African Community Affairs has launched a mass awareness campaign on East African Community (EAC) Integration throughout the country.

The campaign which is set to be rolled out in the five languages of English, Luganda, Runyakitara, Luo and Ateso will raise awareness on benefits and opportunities of EAC regional integration.

Speaking at a half day stakeholders' workshop at Statistics House Tuesday, Edith Nsajja Mwanje, the Ministry's Permanent Secretary said citizens need to be sensitized in order to appreciate the purpose, benefits and challenges of EAC integration.

"With the EAC integration, a large economic bloc will create an economically viable market to promote investment and trade within the region and with other communities outside the region and benefits for economies of large scale," Mwanje said.

  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of East African Community Affairs (MEACA) Edith Mwanje (L) with the commissioner, MEACA Ronah Ssewanda, during the stakeholders' meeting on the mass awareness campaign for East African Community integration at statistics House Kampala on 28/ 07/2015. Photo by Godiver Asege

The EAC comprises five partner states of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda and has a population of about 143.5 million and a Gross Domestic Product at current prices of USD 110.3 billion at the end of 2013.

Initially, the community had a membership of three states, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda that founded the East African Community in 1967 and dissolved it in 1977. Prior to its dissolution in 1977, the EAC was one of the oldest and most prosperous Regional Economic Communities in the world.

"As a bigger sovereign state, the EAC has a wider internal market and more negotiating power in the international arena. Once fully integrated, the EAC partner states will be more visible and have stronger bargaining power with other communities," Mwanje added.

Some of the activities of the campaign include mass media campaigns, music competitions, theatre drama and stakeholder meetings.

In November 2013, the EAC heads of state signed the East African Monetary Union protocol with an implementation schedule that will see the region launch a single currency by 2040, reducing transaction costs sustainably.
 
According to Mwanje, since the launch of the Customs Union in January 2005, total intra EAC trade grew from USD 1.6B to USD 3.8B in 2010, more than a hundred percent increase.

For Uganda, the volume of exports rose from USD 132M in 2004 to USD 398.8M in 2009. The volume of imports also increased from USD 416.3M in 2004 to USD 547M in 2009.

Delivering his keynote address, The State Minister in charge of General Duties Tarsis Kabwegyere said the revival of the EAC 15 years ago is one of the region's greatest achievements.
 
He said in spite of the obvious benefits of regional integration, the level of public awareness about the integration process and opportunities available are still very low.

"The awareness campaign is in part a powerful demonstration of our determination to take EA to the people of Uganda to stimulate effective participation and the reaping of associated benefits," Kabwegyere said.

Statistics from a survey carried out by the Ministry of EAC affairs in 2013 showed that 33percent of the general public respondents were not aware of the EA integration process and stakeholders were at 16percent.

Kabwegyere, also holding the portfolio of Minister of EAC affairs however said today, there are policies such as the National Policy on EAC Integration and strategies like the National EAC communication strategy in its final stages of development.

"This is a big market for Uganda's goods, labour and capital in accordance with the EAC Customs Union and Common Market protocols. It also provides an abundance of opportunities for Ugandans to participate in and benefit from the integration process," he explained.

The customs union has in particular catalyzed remarkable trade expansion within the region. Intra EAC trade grew by 53 percent between 2005 and 2013 and the time taken to move goods from Mombasa to Kampala has reduced from 21 days to 5 days.