eac e-newsletter 31 may 2012

7/28/2019 EAC E-Newsletter 31 May 2012

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EACS $138M

BUDGET

PRESENTED TO

EALA

The Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and Minister for East AfricanCommunity, Kenya Hon. Musa Sirma on 24 May 2012, presented Budget estimates

for the 2012/2013 Financial Year totaling $138,316,455 to the East African LegislativeAssembly meeting in Arusha.

The 2012/2013 Budget, up from $136.9m in the previous Financial Year, prioritizesconsolidating the Customs Union; implementation of the Common Market Protocol;completion of negotiations on the East African Monetary Union Protocol; cooperationin cross-border Infrastructure; implementation of the critical activities of EAC FoodSecurity and Climate Change Master Plan; implementation of activities of Lake

Victoria Basin Commission namely water and sanitation for the 15 towns around theLake and its catchment area.

(Continued on page 2)

In this Issue

EACs $138M Budget Presented

to EALA

EAC Redeploys Deputy

Secretaries General

EPA Negotiations on Course,

EAC Interests Safeguarded

Sectoral Council of Ministers

Adopts LVBC Strategic Plan

Former EAC Employees Lose

Latest Bid For Terminal Benefits

EAC Speakers Forum Meets in

Kigali

EALA Speaker Meets SouthSudan Counterpart

Rt. Hon Abdi Bids President

Kagame Farewell

Court Declines to Adjudicate

EALA Term Limits

EAC Secretary General Visits

LVBC, Busia, Malaba BorderPosts and LVFO

Amb. Sezibera Takes Over

IRCC Chair

EAC Secretary General LaunchesWomen in Business Platform

Team of UN Agencies on HIV &

AIDS Visits EAC

EAC National Focal Points

Evaluate SALW Project

Secretary General Holds Talks

with French Envoy

e-EACEAC UPDATE ISSUE NO 58 31 MAY 2012

Newsletter


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The Council Chairperson highlighted a number of achieve-ments registered in the FY 2011/2012, notably the expansionof the regions GDP by 5.9% in spite of a harsh economicenvironment marked by rising inflation and high fuel prices;plus sustained growth of intra-EAC trade, which he said now

stands at over $4 billion having risen from $2 billion in 2005.

The intra-EAC trade to total EAC trade has grown from7.5% in 2005 to 11.5% in 2011. This means that theintensity of trade among Partner States is growing at amodest pace. The region has also started witnessing PartnerStates which were net intra-EAC importers start to becomeintra-EAC exporters, Hon. Sirma stated.

For example, the United Republic of Tanzania registered asurplus budget in its intra-EAC trade in 2010. This trend isprincipally due to coherent regional policy measures thathave enabled EAC to fully implement a free trade regimecoupled with continuous improvement in trade facilitation,

he added.

Presenting the Budget estimates, the Council Chairpersonnoted that among the identified priority areas, interventionsin the Customs Union will focus on carrying out thoseactivities that will enable the region to turn into a SingleCustoms Territory.

Hon. Sirma observed that the Single Customs Territory willcrystallize the gains of integration characterized by minimal

internal border controls and a moreefficient institutional mechanism in

clearing goods.

He informed the House that a HighLevel Task Force comprised of expertsfrom Partner States will, in July 2012,embark on an exercise to transform theEAC into a Single Customs Territory anda progress report will be made to theSummit in November this year.

On implementation of the CommonMarket Protocol, the emphasis will beon operationalization of the free move-ment of labor provisions, as well as the

integration of the regional financialmarkets to allow for free movement ofcapital.

Cooperation in cross-border infrastruc-ture development will see thecommencement of construction of the

Arusha-Holili/Taveta-Voi road; conclusion of detailed designsfor the Malindi-Lunga Lunga-Holili-Bagamoyo road anddevelopment of One Stop Border Posts at Namanga,Rusumo, Holili-Taveta, Lunga Lunga-Horohoro, Kabanga-Kombero and Kagitumba.

The other activities that are planned in this area include

completion of the detailed studies for the Dar-Isaka-Kigali/Keza-Msongati railway; rail links between Kenya-Uganda andUganda-Tanzania; strategies for harmonized EAC energygeneration as well as construction of the three interconnec-tors already identified and; resource mobilization forBujumbura port and the Mombasa and Dar es Salaam portrehabilitation projects.

Regarding ongoing efforts to establish a single financialmarket, the Council Chairperson noted that substantialprogress had been made but added that Partner States need

to remodel their economic policies in a regional perspectivewith a view of creating robust frameworks for economicconvergence, production of reliable comparable statistics,

creation of a vibrant compliance and enforcement mecha-nism and independent institutions to support a robust EastAfrican Monetary Union.

The FY 2012/2013 Budget will be financed by Partner Statecontributions through the Ministries of EAC ($35,375,722);Partner States through other agencies ($4,825,709);Development Partners ($97,079,329); and other income($1,035,695).

(Continued from page 1)

EAC UPDATE ISSUE NO 58 31 MAY 2012

~ Budget prioritizes consolidation of Customs Union, Common

Market and cross-border infrastructure development

programmes, among others

Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and Minister for East African Community, KenyaHon. Musa Sirma presenting the EAC Budget estimates for the 2012/2013 Financial Year.


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The Secretary General of the East African

Community Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera on 2

May 2012, deployed three Deputy Secretaries

General to different dockets as directed by the

10th Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State

held 28 April 2012.

In the changes, the newly appointed Deputy

Secretary General Hon. Jesca Eriyo takes over

the Productive and Social Sectors docket

previously handled by Mr. Jean Claude Nsen-

giyumva.

Hon. Eriyo, who was sworn in on 28 April

2012 at the 10th Extraordinary Summit,

assumed office with effect from 30 April 2012,taking over Ugandas slot for Deputy

Secretary General that was previously held by

Hon. Beatrice Kiraso.

Mr. Nsengiyumva has been redeployed as the

Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance

and Administration, while his predecessor in

that position, Dr. Julius Tangus Rotich,

becomes the new Deputy Secretary General in

charge of Political Federation, filling a position

left vacant by the exit of Hon. Kiraso, whose

second and final three-year term came to an

end on 28 April.

Dr. Enos Bukuku retained the Planning and

Infrastructure docket, while Mr. Peter Kiguta

also remains Director General for Customs

and Trade.

The number of Deputy Secretaries General is

determined by the EAC Council of Ministers,

and the Deputy Secretaries General are then

appointed by the Summit of Heads of State on

the recommendation of the Council and on a

rotational basis. Each Deputy Secretary

General serves a three-year term that is

renewable once.

The Deputy Secretaries Generals roles include

deputizing for the Secretary General and

performing such other duties as may be

prescribed by the Council.


EAC Redeploys Deputy

Secretaries General

Hon. Jesca Eriyo,Deputy Secretary General in charge of

Productive and Social Sectors.

Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva.Deputy Secretary General in charge of

Finance and Administration.

Dr. Julius Tangus RotichDeputy Secretary General in charge of

Political Federation

Dr. Enos BukukuDeputy Secretary General in charge of

Planning and Infrastructure.

Mr. Peter KigutaDirector General

Customs and Trade.


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The Secretary General of the East Africa Community Amb.

Dr. Richard Seziberahas reaffirmed that negotiations for the

EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) are on

course and hailed the talks as the first time in history that

the EAC Partner States were negotiating terms of reciprocal

trade arrangement with Europe as a bloc.

While responding to questions from the Media after the pres-

entation of the EAC Budget Estimates for the Financial Year

2012/2013 to the East African Legislative Assembly, Amb.

Sezibera said unlike the previous arrangements under the

Lome and the Cotonou agreements, which were unilateral

arrangements whose terms and conditions were decided by

the European Union, the EPA will create some level of pre-dictability and transparency in the trade regime between EU

and EAC.

The Secretary General noted that in addition, under the Every-

thing But Arms (EBA) preference scheme for Least Developed

Countries, countries were assessed periodically to ascertain

whether they remain eligible to benefit from the EBA.

Moreover, there were stringent Rules of Origin (RoO) under the

EBA, which makes it challenging for countries to effectively utilize

this market access opportunity. In addition, Sanitary and Phyto-

sanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) measures

are non-negotiable.

The Secretary General reiterated that in light of this, the EPA hasthe potential to consolidate the EU market for EAC's exports. He

reaffirmed that the EU market was still one of the significant ex-

port destinations for the region's agricultural products since it

offers the option to access a high price market that is considera-

bly protected.

The EPA Rules of Origin are expected to be simple, flexible and

asymmetrical to take into account the different levels of develop-

ment between both Parties. It allows for single transformation of

textiles and cumulation with all the countries that the EU has

concluded or will conclude a Free Trade Agreement.

The Secretary General reaffirmed the EAC Partner States commit-

ment to concluding the EPAs that promote the interests of the

region. Below are some of the highlights of the Secretary Gen-

erals response to the several issues raised by the media on EPA:

Market Access

The EU Market Access offer, whose implementation began on the

1st January 2008 consists of duty free and quota free access for all

EAC exports to EU, except for arms and ammunition. EAC prod-

ucts that attracted tariffs into the EU under the Cotonou Partner-

ship Agreement are now zero-rated.

On the other hand, the EAC Market Access offer consists of liber-

alization of 82.6% of imports from the EU over a twenty five (25)

year transition period. EAC is the only African region in which all

signatories have identical schedules. These are all based on re-

ductions from the EAC Common External Tariff (CET).

This liberalization will occur in three phases, with the first phase

from 2010 involving only products with a current CET of zero

percent. Thus products covered in this phase do not attract any

import taxes under the EAC Customs Union (raw materials or

capital goods). This constitutes 65.4% of EACs imports under this

regime are from the EU currently. The second phase will be be-tween 2015 and 2023, where EAC Partner States will liberalize a

further 14.6%. Products in this category are intermediate inputs

and attract 10% duty. These intermediate products are critical for

the EAC Industrialization Strategy.

The third phase will be between 2020 and 2033, where the EAC

Partner States will liberalize a further 2.6% of its imports from the

EU. This phase includes finished products whose availability at

lower cost was deemed to have a positive effect on consumer

welfare, and not to have a potentially negative impact on EAC

economies. Therefore, until 2033, the EAC will effectively liberalize

only 17.2 % of products deemed critical for Industrialization or

consumer welfare.

It is important to take note that approximately, one-fifth (17.4%)

of EAC imports from the EU is excluded from liberalization com-

mitments under the EPA. These products constitute the EAC Ex-

clusion List (including the list of sensitive products under the

CET).

The criteria for including products on this list included: the contri-

bution to rural development; employment; livelihood sustainabil-

ity; promotion of food security; fostering infant industries; contri-



EPA Negotiations on Course,

EAC Interests Safeguarded


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bution to government revenues.

Products which were deemed to contribute or to have a potential

to contribute to increased production and trade competitiveness

were excluded from the list as well as well as all products subsi-

dized by EU are on this list.

The EAC Partner States have negotiated for policy flexibility for

revision of the tariff lines liberalized under the EPA. Further, the

EAC and the EU have agreed to review the Agreement after every

five years.

The EPA contains provisions on trade defence instruments that

would give EAC the opportunity to impose measures in cases

where EU imports were to increase in such quantities that they

would threaten domestic producers and industry. These include:

bilateral and multilateral safeguards (including pre-emptive safe-guards where in exceptional circumstances require immediate

action, i.e. for food security); Infant industry protection measures

i.e. EAC can impose non-tariff measures or re-introduce Most

Favored Nation (MFN) tariff for up to a period of 10 years with the

possibility of a five year extension; and antidumping and counter-

vailing measures.

Other Market Access areas such as Customs and Trade Facilita-

tion; Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary and Phytosanitary

Measures have been agreed upon and finalized.

Status of Negotiations

Upon initialing the Framework EPA on 27 November 2007, the

EAC Partner States and the EU reviewed various Articles of the

FEPA. Most of these Articles, known as the contentious issues,

have been the subject of extensive debate between both Parties

and remain outstanding.

These issues include: Export taxes and the MFN clause. Negotia-

tions are also ongoing in the following clusters: Economic and

Development; Agriculture; Rules of Origin; and Institutional Ar-

rangements, Dispute Settlement and Final Provisions. Both Parties

have agreed to negotiate Trade in Services and Trade Related

Issues at a later stage.

Economic and Development Cooperation (EDC)

The Economic and Development Cooperation (EDC) provisions are

part of the EPAs in recognition of the fact that changes to the

trade regime will entail significant costs for the EAC. The EACPartner States would like to ensure that additional resources are

made available to assist them address the supply side constraints

so that they can take advantage of opportunities stemming from

implementation of the EPA Agreement.

Two critical issues remain outstanding under the EDC namely,

annexing the EAC EPA Development Matrix and when to develop

Benchmarks, Indicators and Targets for Monitoring the Implemen-

tation of the EPA Agreement. The EAC EPA Development Matrix

contains the key regional projects for the EAC Partner States,

which if undertaken will resolve some of the supply side con-

straints of the EAC Partner States.

Agriculture

The EAC Partner States recognize the importance of agriculture in

EAC Partner States economies, as the main source of livelihood

for the majority of the regions population, as the primary factor

to ensure food and nutrition security, potential sector for high

growth and value-addition and a source of export earnings.

They recognize the importance of supporting agricultural produc-

tion, promotion of value addition, agricultural trade and market

development initiatives through appropriate instruments and pro-

vision of appropriate regulatory framework to respond to changing

market conditions. On the negotiations under Agriculture, out-

standing issues remain on the following: domestic support and

export subsidies; and on geographical indications.

Rules of Origin (RoO)

The cornerstone of the EPA RoO is the principle of asymmetry

that reflects the differential level of development between the EAC

and the EU. The negotiations on RoO are guided by the following

objectives:

Improving and increasing the market access for EAC exports into

the EU market;

Promoting the establishment and growth of the industrial and

agricultural base of EAC Partner States;

Facilitating the diversification of the EAC export base;

Deepening EAC regional integration through cumulation across

EAC as well with COMESA and SADC countries;

Widen EAC Partner States base for sourcing raw materials for

production of goods targeting the EU market by allowing for ex-

tended cumulation that covers all ACP countries, countries that

the EU has concluded an FTA with and cumulation with goods

that enter the EU market at an MFN duty rate of 0%; and

Achievement of the overall Cotonou Partnership Agreement objec-

tives: poverty eradication, equitable growth, sustainable develop-

ment, strengthening of private sector, integration into global

economy, increasing productivity and competitiveness of ACP

products.

The EAC-EU EPA RoO are contained in Protocol No. 1 with all its

annexes, which include Annex II that spells out specific rules to

apply for products manufactured using non-originating raw mate-

rial.

Current negotiations on the RoO are focused on rules applicable

to EAC exports to the EU. The EAC negotiating position on the




~Amb. Sezibera reaffirms EAC Partner State commitment toconcluding EPAS


6/20 6

RoO has been derived from Industry consultations at the Partner

States level, EAC Protocol on RoO and General System of Prefer-ences (GSP) Rules.

The EAC Partner States and the EU have agreed to undertake

further work on Protocol No 1 and the Annexes.

Institutional Arrangements, Dispute Settlement and Final

Provisions

The Institutional Arrangement, Dispute Settlement and Final Pro-

visions chapter intends to:

i.Establish institutions which will ensure the achievement of theobjectives of the EPA Agreement; and

Help avoid disputes and to settle any dispute between the Parties

concerning the interpretation and application of the Agreement ingood faith and to arrive at, where possible, a mutually agreed

solution.

Negotiations are ongoing in this regard.

Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development

The EU has submitted a text on Trade, Environment and Sustain-

able Development (TESD). The EU proposal includes commit-

ments to develop measures on environmental issues, social issues

and labour standards including scope of the cooperation and insti-

tutional arrangements.

The EAC has made its position clear to the EU that TESD is one of

the Trade Related Issues (TRI) for which both Parties had agreed

that TRI along with Trade in Services be negotiated at a laterstage. The EAC has also pointed out to the EU that discussion of

this item will prolong the negotiation period and delay the conclu-

sion of the core negotiation issues.

New Issues submitted by the EU

In November 2011, the EU proposed two new issues to be in-

cluded in the negotiations, namely, Good Governance in the Tax

Area; and Obligations/Consequences from Customs Union Agree-

ments concluded with EU. The EAC has not agreed to the inclu-

sion of these issues in the negotiations.

Implications of EACs Market Access Offer on their Agri-

cultural Development

The agricultural products in which the EAC are competitive inproducing (or have the potential) are hardly affected by the EPA

as these have largely been excluded from liberalization. This posi-

tion was motivated by need to address food security and rural

livelihood.

The EAC will be liberalizing seven agricultural items (six products

attracting 10% and one product at 25%) which are currently

significantly sourced from the EU, hence the potential loss of

revenue. These are: 1) Maize starch; 2) Flours and meals of soya

beans; 3) Sea weeds and other algae; 4) Animal food prepara-

tions; 5) Casein; 6) Other modified starches; 7) Colza Oil.

Implications of EACs Market Access Offer on their TariffRevenue

EAC liberalization is based on its CET. 65.4% of the value of im-

ports from the EC is already at zero tariff under the EAC CET

(industrial inputs and capital goods) and 17.4% of the value of

imports from the EU is excluded from liberalization. In effect

therefore, the EAC is liberalizing only 17.2% of its imports (14.6%

+2.6%) from the EU over the course of 25 years. This gives EAC

a good period of time with which to adjust.

It is important to note that with the advent of the EAC Customs

Union, EACs dependence on customs duties as a source of reve-

nue has declined. Focus is shifting to domestic sources of revenue

such as sales taxes. Under the EPA, the envisaged revenue loss

from the liberalization of the intermediate and finished products

has been mitigated by a negotiated phase-in period that com-

mences 2015 to 2033.

The revenue loss is expected to be offset by gains from enhanced

competitiveness triggered by the reduction in the tariffs of inter-

mediate products. Thus revenue is expected to be generated from

domestic taxes as a result of increased trade. Further, develop-

ment cooperation from the EU provides an opportunity to mitigate

the face value of the losses from the liberalization.

Proposed Amendment To EC Market Access Regulation

1528 /2007

In September 2011, the EU made a proposal to amend its Market

Access Regulation 1528/2007. The EC Market Access Regulation

1528/2007 is a temporary, unilateral instrument of the EU to en-sure that, pending implementation of the EPAs there will be no

trade disruption i.e. it provides for duty free quota free to coun-

tries having signed and/or initialed EPA.

The proposal to amend consist of a deadline of 2013 to provi-

sional application of the EPA trade preferences for those countries

that initialed an EPA but had not signed or taken the necessary

steps to ratify it, regardless of whether contentious issues have

been resolved or the EPA is completed. This would mean that

countries that had not initialed or taken steps to ratify would lose

preferences under the EPA as from 1 January 2014.

The EAC Partner States recall and reiterate the common position

reached by the ACP Council of Ministers in December 2011, which

insists that the proposed amendment should be withdrawn asnegotiations continue. The objective is to ensure that all the con-

tentious issues are resolved and that the EPA promotes develop-

ment interests of the EAC. Therefore until the negotiations are

concluded the planned withdrawal should not be enforced.



Current negotiations on Rules of Origin focus on rulesapplicable to EAC exports to the EU.


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The 10th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake

Victoria Basin considered and adopted the Lake Victoria Basin

Commission (LVBC) Strategic Plan 2011-2016. The Sectoral

Council held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 30 April to 5 May 2012,

also directed the LVBC Secretariat to prepare a resource

mobilisation strategy to guide its implementation.

The LVBC Strategic Plan 2011-2016 shall contribute to therealisation of the aspirations set out in the 4th East African

Community Development Strategy 2011-2016.

The LVBC Strategic Plan has got six development objectives,

including: (1) strengthening the coordination and manage-

ment capacity of the LVBC Secretariat; (2) enhancing coop-

eration between LVBC and EAC organs, institutions and part-

ners; (3) harmonising approaches for sustainable manage-

ment and development natural resources of the Lake Victoria

Basin; (4) harmonisation of HIV&AIDS policy frameworks and

practice for mobile population across the East African region;

(5) improvement of safety of navigation and security on Lake

Victoria; (6) promoting conservation and management of

natural resources and biodiversity in and outside protectedareas.

Other reports considered and adopted included progress

reports for LVBC projects and programmes as well as finance,

administrative and institutional matters.

In his statement, the Chairperson of the East African Commu-

nity Council of Ministers and Minister for East African Commu-

nity in the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Musa Sirma, hailed Sec-


Sectoral Council of Ministers Adopts

LVBC Strategic Plan

toral Council for Lake Victoria Basin for making policy deci-

sions that were yielding desired results.

He expressed appreciation for the support provided by EACs

development partners including, the International Develop-

ment Association, the European Community, the Global Envi-

ronment Facility and the Swedish International Development

Agency.

During the meeting, the LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr. Can-

isius Kanangire, highlighted the problems faced by the Lake

Victoria Basin.

The Basin continues to be faced by poverty, environmental

degradation, avoidable deaths from droughts, floods, land-

slides and accidents, as well as climate change challenges.

Whereas commendable results are being achieved through

our ongoing projects and programmes, these huge challenges

call for an adjustment in our focus to allow a balance between

the software and hardware interventions so that LVBC can

support investment in infrastructure to address the above-

mentioned challenges, said Dr. Kanangire.

Dr. Kanangire thanked the Deputy Executive Secretary

(Projects and Programmes), Mr. Samuel Gichere and the Dep-

uty Executive Secretary (Finance and Administration), Mr.

Stanley Matowo, whose tenures of service at LVBC is coming

to an end, for their dedicated service to the Commission and

wished them well in their future endeavours.



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The ministers in attendance included: the Minis-

ter for East African Community Chairperson of

the EAC Council of Ministers, Hon. Musa Sirma,

Hon. Peter Munya, Assistant Minister, Ministry of

East African Community and Hon. Josphat

Nanok, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Forestry

and Wildlife in the Republic of Kenya.

Others included Hon. Jean-Marie Nibirantije, the

Minister of Water, Environment, Land and Urban

Planning in the Republic of Burundi; Hon. Stanis-

las Kamanzi, the Minister of Natural Resources in

the Republic of Rwanda; Hon. Dr. Abdulla

Saadala, the Deputy Minister for East African

Cooperation, Ministry of East African Coopera-tion; as well as Hon. Flavia Nabugere, the Minis-

ter of State for Environment, Ministry of Water

and Environment. The EAC Deputy Secretary-

General in charge of Finance and Administration,

Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva, also attended the

meeting.

The Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria

Basin provides overall policy direction for the

implementation of projects and programmes in

the Basin and meets regularly for the same pur-

pose.

The meeting was concluded on 5 May 2012 witha Ministerial study tour to selected project sites

of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management

Project Phase II (LVEMP II) in Kigali and the

Lake Victoria Water Supply and Sanitation Pro-

gramme Phase II (LVWATSAN II) in Rwamagana.

The Ministers also visited Lake Ihema to see the

successful water hyacinth control interventions

by the Government of Rwanda. At a media brief-

ing held on the same day, Hon. Peter Munya,

hailed the adoption of the LVBC Strategic Plan by

the Sectoral Council as well as the LVEMP II and

LVWATSAN interventions visited by the Ministers

in the Republic of Rwanda for their potential to

contribute to the sustainable development

agenda of the Lake Victoria Basin.



...Ministers visit

Lake Ihema

East African Court of Justice Arusha 27 April, 2012: Former employees of

the defunct East African Community Thursday lost an appeal to be paid

terminal benefits after the Appellate Division of the EACJ confirmed a rul-

ing by the First Instance Division dismissing their claims.

The lower division of the regional court had dismissed the claim by Em-

manuel Mwakisha and 748 others on grounds that the Treaty could not be

applied retrospectively.

In their reference, the applicants (Emmanuel Mwakisha and 748 others)

had prayed for declarations that the respondents (Attorney General of

Kenya) refusal, neglect and/or failure to pay the applicants terminal bene-fits constitutes a breach of Article 6(d) and Article 7(2) of the EAC Treaty.

They also prayed for an order to compel the respondent to pay terminal

benefits including, but not limited to, one months salary in lieu of notice,

loss of office benefits, pension emoluments, outstanding/accumulated

leave, repatriation expenses, real value and 7% compound interest until

payment in full.

The EACJ however noted that notwithstanding it being a court of justice,

the jurisdiction for interrogating the merits and/or demerits of the appel-

lants grievance does not lie with it, on account of the non retrospective

application of the EAC Treaty, but rather that that jurisdiction lies with the

national courts.

Mr. Mutembei Marete and Edmond Gichuru represented counsel for the

appellant, while Mr. Muiruri Ngugi and Ms. Irene Lukoba represented the

Kenyan Attorney General.

The Court ordered each party to bear its own costs.

Former EAC

Employees Lose

Latest Bid For

Terminal Benefits

For more details visit: www.lvbcom.org


9/20 9


The EAC Bureau of Speakers has on 7 May 2012, rallied itssupport for the establishment of the East African ParliamentaryInstitute (EAPI) in a move geared towards building institutionalcapacities of legislators and parliamentary staff in the region.

The Speakers Forum under which the Speakers met in Kigali,Rwanda, also elected the Speaker of the Rwanda Parliament(Chamber of Deputies) Rt. Hon Rose Mukantabana as its newChairperson, taking over from the Speaker of the Parliament ofUganda, Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga.

The EAPI is an initiative of EALA in consultation with theNational Assemblies and is envisaged to be established as aninstitution of the EAC. In September 2011, EALA passed theEast African Parliamentary Institute (EAPI) Bill, 2011 providingthe legal framework for the establishment of Institute. The Billwhich inter alia establishes a mechanism for capacity and skillsdevelopment to promote professionalism is now in the processof assent. Already, the Presidents of the Republics of Burundi,Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya have assented to the Bill. The Billis now before the President of the United Republic of Tanzaniawho is expected to assent to the same.

(L-R) EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdirahin Abdi; Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly, Rt. Hon Kenneth Marende; Speaker of the Rwanda Parliament (Chamberof Deputies), Rt. Hon Rose Mukantabana; President of the Rwanda Senate, Rt. Hon Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo; Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda,

Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga; and Speaker of the Burundi National Assembly, Rt. Hon Pie Ntavyohanyuma.

EAC Speakers Forum Meets

in Kigali

EALA recently signed a Memorundum of Understanding withthe State University of New York (SUNY) Kenya to fund theinitial set up of the Institute over the next three years withother finances expected from the National Assemblies witheffect from the Financial Year 2013/2014.

On relations between EALA and National Assemblies, it wasnoted that Parliament of Uganda had moved ahead andestablished a Standing Committee solely responsible for EACaffairs. The Forum thus urged other Partner States NationalAssemblies to as much as possible; establish Committeesresponsible for EAC Affairs so that matters of integration arediscussed on more regular basis. At the moment, EAC mattersare handled under Committees responsible for Foreign Affairsin the rest of the Partner States. The meeting further urgedthe Assemblies to move with haste and amend their respectiveRules of Procedure to incorporate the harmonized Rules ofProcedure on how to handle EALA business. So far, theStanding Orders of the Parliaments of Kenya and Uganda havebeen revised to include modalities of bringing the business of



10/20 10

EALA to the House with other Assemblies expected to followsuit shortly.

The meeting held at the Parliament of Rwanda, was attendedby the EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi, the President ofthe Rwanda Senate, Rt Hon Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo,Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker, Parliament of Uganda, Rt.Hon Kenneth Marende, Speaker of the Kenya NationalAssembly, Rt. Hon Pie Ntavyohanyuma, Speaker of theBurundi National Assembly and Rt. Hon Anna Makinda,Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania. In attendance werethe Clerks and select staff representing the National Assem-blies and EALA.

On elections of EALA Members, it was stated the NationalAssemblies of Tanzania and Burundi had finalised theirelections by end of April this year as per the request of theearlier meeting of the Bureau of Speakers.

Similar processes of elections are currently on-going in Kenya,Rwanda and Uganda. The Speaker of Uganda, Rt. HonRebecca Kadaga noted that her Parliament was howeverwaiting for judgment on the cases pending before the EastAfrican Court of Justice (EACJ) on the matters of EALAMembers, before the said elections are held.

In her statement, Rt. Hon Mukantabana noted that the EAChad made remarkable strides in the integration progresssaying that there was no point of return. She noted that

critical legal regulatory systems shall need to be looked intoto enable the uptake of the Common Market Protocol. Shesaid Parliaments had a fundamental role to play in legislation,oversight and representative mandate of the Community.

The Speaker of the Burundi National Assembly, Hon PieNtavyohanyuma hailed the existing peace and security in theregion and said Burundi was on the verge of establishing theTruth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC). Rt. HonNtavyohanyuma remarked that his Parliament was gearingtowards enacting laws that would ensure implementation ofthe TRC. On his part, Rt. Hon Kenneth Marendeacknowledged the contribution of the Speakers for theircontribution to the cherished dream of a united East

Africa. Rt. Hon Anna Makinda urged the Assemblies to takethe lead in steering the integration process noting that theirmandate remained key.

The Bureau of Speakers further urged all Partner States toremove all NTBs and called for the matter to be addressed asa matter of urgency. There is need to fast-track the removalof NTBs, they noted, while endorsing the Communiqu of the10th Extraordinary Summit that discussed the subject mat-ter. The Speakers thus urged the Assemblies to enhancetheir oversight role in ensuring the NTBs were removed if theobjectives of the EAC are to be realised.



Hon Pie Ntavyohanyumahails existing peace and

security in the region

The Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi on 11 May 2012, metwith the Speaker of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon.Gen. James Wani Igga in Dar es Salaam today.

At the meeting, the two Speakers called for cessation to thehostilities between South Sudan and the Sudan noting that anunstable South Sudan meant an unstable EAC. The Speaker of theSouth Sudan further implored the EAC to move fast with regards toits application to join the economic bloc noting that his country waseager to be counted as a Member.

The Sudan Speaker was an official two day visit to the region. Heis accompanied by four legislators of the South Sudan Legislative

Assembly. They are Hon Henry Dilah Odwar, Chair, Committee ofEnergy and Mining, Hon Mary Atong Bak, Deputy Chair, Committeeof Information and Culture, Hon Dr. Kuong Dak Wie, MP and aMember of staff, Mr, James William Ladu.

The South Sudan Speaker narrated the events of the currentimpasse that Khartoum and Juba are embroiled in and added that63 lives had been already lost. He appealed to the EAC, UN and theinternational community to step in so as to avoid any more blood-shed, noting that, it was time for his country to go the developmentway, promote education and good governance. Such ideals, headded, would be realized in an environment of peace.

On economic development, Rt. Hon Wani said that South Sudanoffered a lot of investment opportunities and told the private sectorat the EAC to cash in on the opportunities.

We have plenty of oil resources as well as minerals such as

diamond and gold and it is important that the region benefits, theSpeaker said, adding that the entry into the Community wouldcreate a market for his country.

On his part, Rt. Hon Abdi appealed for calm and told both Republicof South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan to amicably resolve thestand-off which he remarked stood in the way of peace for the EACas well. He supported the fast-tracking of the entry of South Sudaninto the EAC and stated that a Committee on Verification put inplace by the Summit of the EAC Heads of State was soon headed toJuba to ascertain its readiness and suitability for the economicbloc.

EALA Speaker

Meets South Sudan

Counterpart


11/20 11


Rt. Hon Abdi Bids President Kagame

Farewell~ EALA Speaker warmly received at Village Urugwiro

The President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E. Paul

Kagame on 7 May 2012, received the Speaker of

EALA, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi at Village Urugwiro

(State House) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Speaker Abdi was in Kigali to bid H.E. Kagame

farewell as the end of his tenure as Speaker of the

regional Assembly approaches. In his remarks,

President Kagame hailed EALA for the steadfast

commitment to the EAC integration process which he

noted continued to be strengthened.

He remarked that he had personally benefited from

the friendship of the Speaker, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi

and found it an immense pleasure as well to interact

with Members of the 2nd Assembly.

The Speaker on his part thanked the President of

Rwanda for his amity to EALA and to him in his

personal capacity and noted that the EAC region was

more the richer following the entry of Rwanda into

the economic bloc.

Present at the meeting was the Minister for EAC in

the Republic of Rwanda, Hon Monique Mukaruliza.

The meeting was part of the Speakers official tour to

capitals to bid farewell to the EAC Heads of

State. Last Friday (May 3, 2012), Rt. Hon Abdi

visited Bujumbura where he proffered his farewell

message to H.E. Pierre Nkurunziza of the Republic of

Burundi.

Rt. Hon Abdi shall be retiring from EALA after ten

years of service to the regional Assembly. He first

joined the Assembly in November 2001 and was a

Member of the House for five years. He is the only

Member from the Republic of Kenya who wasre-elected for a second term. In June 2007, Rt. Hon

Abdirahin Abdi was elected Speaker of the Assembly,

a position he relinquishes on June 5, 2012.


12/20 12

Hon. Lydia Wanyoto (Left) shakes hands with Judge President Hon. Mr. Justice Harold Nsekela (R) as Vice President Hon. Philip K. Tunoi looks on.


The Appellate Division on 19 May 2012, declined to entertain andadjudicate the matter on the East African Legislative Assembly

(EALA) Members term of office. The Appeal by the Legal Brains

Trust Limited (LBTL) represented by Mr. Dan Wandera Ogalo

against the Attorney General of the Republic of Uganda, praying

to the Court to strike out the decision of the First Instance which

dismissed the a case seeking interpretation of a further term of

five years Wording of Article 51 (1) of the Treaty for the

Establishment of the East African Community, which provides

EALA Tenure of office of the elected Members.

Appellate Court said that, the matter brought to the Court by the

Applicant/Appellant, lacked all the basic material requirements of

lodging a reference/matter under Article 30 of the Treaty; which

provides that any person who is resident in a Partner State mayrefer for determination by the Court, the legality of any Act,

regulation, directive, decision or action of a Partner State or an

institution of the Community on the grounds that such Act,

regulation, directive, decision or action is unlawful or is an

infringement of the provisions of this Treaty.

The Applicant/Appellant being a legal/natural person, not only

lacks the standing to seek an Advisory Opinion under Article 36 of

the Treaty; but, indeed, did not contemplate nor even advert to

the possibility of doing so. Article 36 of the Treaty only allows the

Summit, the Council or a Partner State to seek or request theCourt to give an advisory opinion regarding a question of law

arising from this Treaty which affects the Community, and the

Partner State, the Secretary General or any other Partner State

shall in the case of every such request have the right to be

represented and take part in the proceedings.

The Court added that, the matter also lacked any underlying

factual situation capable of giving rise to any real dispute. For the

Court to entertain any such matter, would amount to entertaining

the academic, the abstract and the speculative with all the

attendant abuse of the court process.

The Court therefore found there was no any unlawful action or

infringement of the Treaty hence determined as no real disputebefore it. It therefore vacated the judgment of the First Instance

as being Moot, made no orders as to the costs of the Appeal and

those in the Lower Court.

Mr. Dan Wandera Ogalo Counsel for the Applicant/Appealant, Mr.

Kasibayo Kosia State Attorney Counsels for the Attorney General

Uganda appeared before Justices Harold Nsekela, President,

Philip Tunoi, Vice President, Emillie R. Kayitesi, Laurent Nzosaba

and James Ogoola.

Court Declines to Adjudicate

EALA Term Limits


13/20 13

The Secretary General of the East Afri-

can Community, Amb. Dr. Richard

Sezibera, has encouraged teamwork as

the basis of achieving desired results

at the Lake Victoria Basin Commission

(LVBC). In his address to staff at the

LVBC

Secretariat on 9 May 2012, Amb.

Sezibera encouraged better coordina-

tion and communication in order to

meet the enormous challenges the

Lake Victoria Basin faces.

Amb. Sezibera called the Lake VictoriaBasin a natural springboard for East

African integration, adding that the

Commission had no leeway to fail in

the implementation of its projects and

programmes.

Amb. Sezibera made the remarks after

receiving briefings on the LVBC and its

activities, including the ongoing

projects and programmes: the Lake

Victoria Environmental Management

Project Phase II (LVEMP II); the Lake

Victoria Water Supply and Sanitation

Programme Phase II (LVWATSAN II);the Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem

Conservation Programme (MERECP);

the East African Community/AMREF

Lake Victoria Partnership (EALP)

Programme on HIV&AIDS; the

Maritime Communication and Safety on

Lake Victoria (MCSLV) Project; and the

Trans-boundary Water for Biodiversity

and Human Health in the Mara River

Basin (TWBHH-MRB) Project.

He also held an interactive session with

LVBC staff to listen to their concerns

and appreciate current challenges ofthe institution.

On the afternoon of 10 May 2012, the

Secretary General paid working visits

to the Busia and Malaba border posts

along the Kenya/Uganda border where

he interacted with the Commissioner

General of the Kenya Revenue Author-

ity, Mr. John Njiraini; the KRA Board of

Directors and Customs officials from

the two EAC Partner States (Kenya and

Uganda).

Here the Secretary General empha-

sized the importance of the two border

posts in promoting intra-regional trade,

and highlighted the need for an inte-

grated working relationship among the

border agencies to facilitate the

smooth flow of trade and travel forEast Africans.

During the meetings, Amb. Sezibera

was apprised of initiatives being under-

taken to facilitate trade between coun-

try and country and intra-region, such

as the simplified rules of origin certifi-

cate as well as joint verification of

goods and increased sharing of infor-

mation among customs agencies.

Some of these initiatives, the Secre-

tary General learnt, represent a limited

application of the One Stop BorderPost concept which aims to improve

traffic flows and clearance procedures

at border posts across the region.

Earlier, Amb. Sezibera paid a courtesy

call on the Provincial Commissioner for

Nyanza Province, Mr. Francis Mutie

where the two held discussions that

focused on making Lake Victoria more

productive while ensuring it is sustain-

ably exploited at the same time.

The Secretary General reiterated the

important role local authorities have toplay in fostering integration, saying:

Local governments are critical for the



EAC Secretary General Visits

LVBC, Busia, Malaba Border Posts

and LVFO


14/20 14

integration agenda. If you dont em-

brace it we shall all fail.

Amb. Sezibera also visited selected

field intervention sites of MERECP and

LVWATSAN II in Uganda. The Secre-

tary General was able to meet and

interact with project officials as well as

members of the grassroots communi-

ties living inside or near the selected

sites.

Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera on 12 May

2012, visited the Lake Victoria Fisher-

ies Organization where he affirmed the

importance of the lakes fisheries re-sources to the regions economy and

security.

The manner in which we collaborate

around this basin (Lake Victoria) will

impact in a great way on East African

integration.

How we manage the fish stocks of

East Africa has an impact not only on

the economy but also the security of

East Africa, Amb. Sezibera observed.

The Secretary General drew a clearconnection between the utilization of

the fisheries resources, contributing

more than $500 million annually ac-

cording to conservative estimates, and

how they could significantly influence

the livelihoods of large portion of the

EAC population but also highlighted

the potential risk of strife arising from

mismanagement of these resources.

The EAC chief, whose stop at the Jinja-

based institution of the EAC was the

final leg of a working visit that had

taken him to the Lake Victoria BasinCommission and the Busia and Malaba

border posts, challenged the regional

fisheries body to devise a mechanism

that ensures better rewards for fisher-

men than what they get presently.

We need to make sure that what the

fisherman gets and what is paid to the

supermarket have some semblance,

the Secretary General asserted.

According to figures provided by theLVFO Executive Secretary Mr. Dick

Nyeko, an East African fisherman will

obtain on average $1.69 for every fish

compared to $2.14 for a factory agent,

$5.60 for the processing factory, $8.10

for an importer or exporter and $17.18

for the supermarket at the end of the

value chain.

The LVFO head highlighted a number

of successes registered by the institu-

tion, which include myriad ecological,

social and economic sustainability pro-

jects as well as policy harmonizationinitiatives to standardize procedures

for fish exploitation activities in the

LVFOs State Parties of Kenya, Tanza-

nia and Uganda.

However Mr. Nyeko enumerated chal-

lenges such as illegal fishing on Lake

Victoria (constituting 40% of all fishing

activities on the lake), overfishing,

weak governance structure, inade-

quate management capacity as well as

environmental degradation.

He also regretted that insufficientfunding was hampering LVFO opera-

tions, while pointing out the need to

expedite the accession of Burundi and

Rwanda to the charter forming the EAC

institution.

THE Secretary General also visited the

National Fisheries Resources Research

Institute (NaFIRRI), an LVFO partner

body, as well as the Source of the Nile

and the Bujagali and Owen Falls Dam

power plants.

For more information on LVBC,

visit: www.lvbcom.org

For more information on LVFO,

visit: www.lvfo.org



Sustainable management if fisheries resources key toeconomy and security - Amb. Sezibera


15/20 15


The Inter-Regional Coordinating Committee (IRCC) a groupingof four Afr ican Regional Organisat ions (theCommon Market for Eastern and Southern Africa-COMESA, theEast African Community-EAC, the Intergovernmental Authorityon Development-IGAD and the Indian Ocean Commission-IOC),

collectively termed as the Eastern and Southern AfricaIndianOcean, ESA-IO region, and the European Union, on 18 May2012, held its 22nd Plenary meeting at Intercontinental Hotel,Nairobi, Kenya

Speaking at the meeting, the Secretary General of the EastAfrican Community Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera said I amgreatly encouraged by our own dynamics at the EAC to takethe IRCCs agenda further, building on what myBrothers have already achieved in their respective Chairman-ships and I, myself designated now to respond to the newchallenges ahead.

He said IRCC will focus on continuous project appraisal,privileging ownership of each Regional Organisation develop-ment/strategic plan and joint regionalnational appraisalswhere relevant. The objective here is to develop a bank ofready-to-be financed coordinated programmes at the level ofeach Regional Organization and responding to the centralobjective of deepening regional integration across the conti-nent

I am indeed committed, within the IRCC framework, to ex-plore ways and means among the Regional Organizations foran optimal leverage of the IRCC, Tripartite, and Horn of AfricaInitiative structures to achieve the best goals

Amb. Sezibera reiterated the need for IRCC to facilitate andsupport adequate capacity building and tooling of the RegionalOrganizations and other related stakeholders in regard to resultbased project preparation, management, implementation, andmonitoring. Therefore, there is need to strengthen the capac-

ity to continuously monitor implementation at national level ofcommitments made at regional level affirmed Amb. Sezibera.

The Secretary General underscored the importance of IRCC toactively promote the visibility and demonstration of value formoney of every EURO invested in the development of theregion and support to regional integration under the principleof subsidiarity. Visibility and acceptance of our IRCCprogramme will depend upon the impact on the ground whichwill be determined by the resources availed to our partners andstakeholders to support regional projects and programs said

Amb. Sezibera.

At the Meeting, the IRCC Chairmanship which was underCOMESA was handed-over to EAC. Chairmanship of IRCC is onrotational basis.

The IRCC was created in 2001 by the four organisations andthe European Union (EU) in order to improve the delivery of aidby the EU to the Eastern and Southern Africa Indian OceanRegion (ESA-IO) under the European Development fund (EDF).

The IRCC is therefore a platform where the four organisationsand EU coordinate, in the presence of the Southern AfricaDevelopment Community (SADC), the African UnionCommission and the ACP Secretariat, the programmes andstrategies to be implemented under the ESA-IO regionalEuropean Development Fund.

Amb. Sezibera Takes Over

IRCC Chair


16/20 16

The Secretary General of the East Africa Community Amb.

Dr. Richard Sezibera on 24 May 2012, launched the East

African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP) in Arusha.

The new platform is aimed at promoting womens participa-

tion in the EAC trade and integration process.

Amb. Sezibera said that the launching of the platform comes

at an opportune moment when a great momentum has

been generated in the EAC strategy for empowerment of

women in the regional integration and development process.

He added that EACs commitment to equity and mainstream-

ing gender in social and economic development is basic and

essential.

Over the years, these issues have galvanized the attention

of the key players and stakeholders in the regional I

ntegration and development process and the discourse that

has involved the broad spectrum of the EAC from the civil

society to the national authorities, the private sector,

regional economic community and our development

partners has been comprehensive and far reaching, he

said.

He said this has addressed age-old marginalization of

women and the skewed allocation of resources and assign-

ment of responsibilities, rights and roles from the family unit

to the society at large.

Amb. Sezibera said that what has clearly emerged is that

despite great potential for contribution to social develop-

ment, the role of women in society has for long been taken

for granted.

Women have been less appreciated and

continue to suffer from limited access to

opportunities and resources in most sectors

especially agriculture and business develop-

ment, he added.

EAWiBP Executive Committee Member Joanne

Mwangi said the platform was initiated in 2011by the East African Business Council (EABC) with

the support of TradeMark East Africa (TMEA)

with a view of putting in place mechanisms to

address challenges faced by women-owned

businesses within the region.

She reiterated that drawing its mandate from

the Treaty for the Establishment of East African

Community, particularly Article 121 and 122, the


platform will be guided by the vision of becoming a Womens

Centre of Excellence for intra and extra-EAC trade. The Treaty

obligates Partner States to promote the role of women in socio-

economic development and in business.

EAC Principal Gender and Community Development Officer Mrs.

Perpetue Miganda reiterated that EAC Treaty under Articles 5,

121 and 122 provides for gender mainstreaming and enhancing

the role of women in socio-economic development and women

in business.

Mrs. Miganda said that translating these commitments to

tangible results and actions, the fourth EAC Development

Strategy 2012-2016 and the EAC Strategic Plan on Gender,Youth, Children, Social Protection and Community Development

have included substantial activities.

These include formulation of policy on promoting women in

socio-economic development and business, establish a

programme on women in cross-border trade, expand financial

infrastructure to increase womens access to financing and

credit and facilitating formulation of women in business associa-

tions.

In the specific area of women and cross border trade, there are

major specific issues to be addressed such as high illiteracy

levels among border communities, lack of market information,

lack of storage facilities, poor infrastructure, ignorance on lawsand policies, illegal routes, insecurity concerns, inadequate

business skills and knowledge, lack of developed border market

and gender-based violence.

EAC Secretary General Launches

Women in Business Platform


17/20 17

East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, 4 May 2012:

The Secretary General of the EAC Amb. Dr. Richard Sezib-

era today received a joint team of United Nations Agencies

on HIV and AIDS Co-sponsors (UNAID, UNICEF, UNODC,

UNFPA and IOM) who paid him a courtesy call at the EAC

headquarters.

At the meeting, the Secretary General underscored the

need for the HIV and AIDS Co-sponsors to focus their

support and cooperation on the areas which can add value

at the national and region levels, especially through design

of better policies to shape HIV and AIDS responses.

Amb. Sezibera also noted the importance of revising theRegional HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (2008-2013) and

aligning it with the current EAC Development Strategy of

2012-2016 as well as devoting resources to addressing

HIV and AIDS.

I believe it is possible for our region to have a HIV and

AIDS free generation if the right resources are invested in

preventing it, said the Secretary General. He added that

the biggest challenge facing Partner States was the issue

of ownership in terms of preventing and responsiveness to

HIV and AIDS.

The head of the visiting delegation Dr. Mbulawa Mugabe,

who is also Deputy Executive Director of the Joint United

Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) for Eastern and

Southern Africa, said they were looking forward to work-

ing with the EAC and indicated that the possible areas of

collaboration and support could be in policy harmonization

and knowledge management.

Dr. Mugabe informed the Secretary General that the UN

agencies were keen on supporting efforts to influence the

leadership at the highest levels as a means of ensuringmore resources are committed to HIV/AIDS initiatives.


Team of UN Agencies on

HIV & AIDS Visits EAC


18/20 18

East African Community (EAC) Partner States Heads ofNational Focal Points (NFPs) on Small Arms and LightWeapons (SALWs) on 28 May 2012, began a three-daymeeting in Nairobi, Kenya, to evaluate impact of the six-yearSALW/GIZ project which winds up on 31 December 2012.

The project was initiated by the EAC Secretariat in collabora-tion with the German International Development Agency (GIZ)to address proliferation of small arms, considered among keysource of crimes and insecurity in the East African countries.

The project has focused on marking of arms, raisingawareness on dangers of small arms and light weapons andcapacity building on stockpile management (marking,registration and storage).

Other areas are: harmonization of SALW legislations, nationalplanning processes and gender mainstreaming, enhancingregional civil society organizations (CSOs) participation andtraining in arms tracing.

The evaluation is being carried by external consultantscommissioned by GIZ. The chairman of meeting David Ki-maiyo lauded the EAC Secretariat and the GIZ for initiatingthe SALW project.

"The SALWs project has had a very positive impact incontrolling the proliferation of arms," Kimaiyo statedin his opening address, who is also the Director ofKenya National Focal Point on SALW.

Leonard Onyonyi, EAC Peace and SecurityExpert, said that the review was to assessachievements and challenges of the SALWproject.

"This comprehensive appraisal will help theEAC Partner States and DevelopmentPartners to come out with a clear pictureof achievements of SALW project," hesaid in a statement he read on behalfof the EAC Deputy Secretary Generalin Charge of Political Federation, DrJulius Rotich.

"GIZ is very much committed tosupporting peace and security

initiatives in the EAC region,"assured GIZ SALW AdvisorMartin Ogango, who is representing theGIZ Manager for Peace and Security MiriamHeidtmann at the session.

The meeting is attended by representatives of RegionalCentre on Small Arms (RECSA), Eastern Africa Action Networkon Small Arms (EAANSA) and Eastern Africa Sub-regionalSupport Initiative (EASSI) who are regional partners of theSALW project.

The EAC Strategy for Peace and Security enhances the spiritof cooperation in regional peace and security, which bringsinto reality the collective responsibility in provision of securityby the Partner States.

It covers collaboration on cross border crimes, automobiletheft, drug trafficking, terrorism, money laundering and othercrimes.

Goal number 12 of the Strategy specifically focuses onestablishment of measures to combat illicit proliferation ofSALWs.

The Goal draws its mandate and objectives from the NairobiProtocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of SALWs

in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and borderingstates; the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Posi-tion on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking ofSALWs and the United Nations Program of Action to Prevent,Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALWs.

The meeting will be followed by one for EAC Partner StatesArms Trade Treaty (ATT) experts. It aims to strategize andreach a common position ahead of the UN Conference on the

Arms Treaty due in New York in July this year.


EAC National Focal Points

Evaluate SALW Project


19/20 19

The Secretary General of the East African Community Amb. Dr.

Richard on 30 May 2012, held talks with HE Marcel Escure,

French Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania who

called on him at his office in Arusha, Tanzania. HE Marcel

Escure is also accredited to the regional bloc as Frances repre-

sentative.

The Secretary General and Amb. Escure discussed a wide

range of issues pertaining to regional integration and the role

the French Government could play in the integration agenda.

On behalf of the East African Community, the Secretary Gen-

eral extended, through the Ambassador, warm congratulations

to President Franois Hollande upon his election as President

of France in the just concluded presidential elections. Amb.

Sezibera noted that the region was looking forward to the

period ahead of strengthened relations between the East Afri-

can Community and France.

The Secretary General was accompanied by, among others,

his Deputy in charge of Finance and Administration Mr. Jean

Claude Nsengiyumva, while the French Ambassador was ac-

companied by Mr. Alain Damais and Mr. Frederic Choblet, both

Senior Officials from French Ministry for the Economy, Finance

and Industry; Mr. Eric Duedal, Head of Regional Economic

Department in Nairobi; Ms. Estelle Cholet, Commercial Attach

at the French Embassy in Dar es Salaam; and Mr. Franois

Kruger, Administrator for the French Treasury at the African

Development Bank.


Secretary General Holds Talks

with French Envoy


20/20


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Editorial Team:

Owora Richard Othieno; Aileen Mallya; Edward Ssekalo; Bobi Odiko; Sukhdev Chhatbar; Florian Mutabazi;Belinda Wera; J .R.Luwali (Photographer ) & Mukhtar Abdul Bolyao (Photographer)

eac e-newsletter 31 may 2012

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