EAC Armed Forces Command officials

EAC Armed Forces Command Post Exercise (CPX) “USHIRIKIANO IMARA” was officially opened at Peace Keeping Training Center (PKTC) Kunduchi, Dar-es salaam Tanzania where Fourty officers and men of UPDF and UPF are participating in the exercise.

The exercise conducted for a fortnight by EAC Partner States was held from 4th to 15th December 2017. The CPX was aimed at training the EAC Partner States’ Armed Forces and other key stakeholders in the planning and conduct of an integrated mission. This encompasses; Peace Support Operations, Disaster management, Counter terrorism and Counter Piracy.

The mission was composed of Military, Police and Civilian Components so as to jointly improve capabilities of combating complex security challenges.

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The chief guest Hon Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi the Minister of Defence and National Services for the United Republic of Tanzania, appreciated the opportunity accorded to him to grace the official opening of the EAC Armed Command Post Exercise “Ushirikiano Imara 2017”.

Hon Mwinyi commended the EAC Secretariat for the excellent arrangements put in place to conduct this exercise in Kunduchi. He congratulated all the EAC partner states for their active participation during the concept development conference initial planning, and final planning conferences which enabled the exercise to take place.

“This is a vivid testimony that you have attached considerable value to this exercise and the entire integration within our community. Indeed it is such a commitment that is likely to propel us further in our endeavor” he added.

Hon Mwinyi further appreciated the respective governments of EAC partner States for the support they have rendered towards making this 2017 exercise possible. He implored that to ensure the community grows even stronger, there is need to commit the much needed resources from elsewhere into the exercise. Hon Dr. Mwinyi expressed concerns over current security challenges facing partner States in the region and beyond. He urged all participants in the exercise to exhibit utmost commitment and discipline in order for them to reap the maximum benefit to their respective governments that availed the resources.

The current Chairperson of the Defence Sectoral Council in the EAC Hon Adolf Mwesige who is also Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs appreciated the regional Defence Forces for the good camaraderie exhibited in preparing for the exercise. He termed it as a foundation which further strengthens the cause of the East African Community, unity, common defence, security, peace and development.

ALSO READ:Kenya’s EALA elections set for tomorrow

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Citing the example of the East African Community where the five member states are looking forward to have a common monetary policy, common market and fight insecurity before it becomes a political federation, this is a big blow. Mp Stephen Mukitale Birahwa of Buliisa county in Bugungu says what has happened to the European Union has weakened the aspirations of the EAC that has been copying a leaf from them.

James Nsaba Buturo Mp for Bufumbira East says with Unity, East African Community can speak with a common voice on issues of its benefit and those they are against like homosexuality but since we are not yet strong, sometimes states fail to reach a common understanding on a given issue. Buikwe south MP Mutebi David says what has happened to EU should be a lesson to member states of the East African Community to identify the challenges that would lead to its separation and work on them before they escalate to cause disunity of a young community.

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H.E. Mwinyi challenges the country to exercise freedom and transparency as they go through the 2016 electoral exercise so as to have new and better leadership that will steer this nation for the next five years.

However, the EAC  secretary general Richard Sezibwera notes that the over 50 observers from all the four member states will be sent to different parts of the country to do the observation part and will be in the country till the 21st of February and will produce their preliminary report before leaving the country.

The EAC observer mission comprises of EALA members, CSOs, EAC youth, and others from the EAC secretariat.

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East African states have begun on the process of drafting a regional constitution which is a great milestone towards the dream of political integration. So far state parties in the EAC have signed the common market protocol, monetary union and now what remains for the realization of the EAC is political integration.

According to the East African community state minister Shem Bageine the East African community council of Ministers will this November meet and appoint experts who will polish the draft East African Community constitution. This was said while speaking at the launch of Karibu East Africa a new initiative to sensitize the masses about the East African community.

However the East African Community Minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere is worried that the internal wrangling over territorial boundaries in some parts of Uganda like Amuru threatens the realization this dream.

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President Yoweri Museveni asked opposition leader in Kenya,  Raila  Odinga, not to waste time on blocking Uganda sugar on Kenyan market since Kenyan products are  continuing to be on the Ugandan market. Museveni said that he  was surprised that Raila was directing Ugandan sugar away from Kenyan market saying that he will  call  him and tell him off not to waste his time on this.

President Museveni was addressing the First Meeting of the Forth Session of the Third Assembly. He added that there is no need for talks over on this matter and said that he had talks with the Kenyan president  Uhuru Kinyatta over Uganda sugar export  to Kenya with the view  that  will enable East African industry to grow.

The president called for the  regional political integration which focuses on prosperity for families and security in East Africa and  stated that the integration will provide market for our goods and services. He noted that East Africans have a problem of where to sale their products if the East Africans wakeup and produce much products.

Museveni said that EALA should negotiate for markets outside the region on behalf of the people and ensuring that there is Security against those who want to dominate the regional security. He urged East African leaders to prevail over removing non tariff barriers for economic integration.

The speaker of the East African legislative Assembly Kedega Dan Kidega called  for speeding  up of the monetary union and regional integration to work on common problems. He reported that East Africa Legislative Assembly faces serious challenges for the presidents to ascent to bills especially moving it from partner states to another causing the delay to assent to the passed bills by member states.

He asked East African states to ensure that Stability in South Sudan and Somalia remain a key focus in having stability in the region.

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The budget committee of parliament chaired by Ntenjeru North Member of Parliament, Amos Lugolobi, has recommended that Government provides 57.8 billion shillings to the Ministry of Gender in the coming fiscal year, 2015/2016, to enable the establishment of the Kiswahili council.

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Kenya’s partners in the region are on track with this too with the East African Community (EAC) member states having agreed to issue e-passports;  Burundi and South Sudan are already issuing out e-passports, and Uganda has set a 2015 goal for this according to the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control in the internal affairs ministry.

President Uhuru Kenyata while at the IPRS launch stated that “We live in an era of intense integration across borders and continents. Every minute, people the world over are interacting in real time and traveling swiftly in pursuit of social, official and business opportunities. The inter-connectivity and mobility of people has brought vast opportunity… It is therefore imperative for Government to have the means to collect, verify and administer data on every individual resident in our country. This is necessary for Government to provide adequate and efficient socioeconomic services to citizens. It is also critical in order to keep the country safe and free from the activities of undesirable elements.”

Get the President’s full speech here: IPRS Launch Presidential Speech

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The bill now awaits EAC Heads of State assent to it before it becomes law in the five East Africa Community member states of Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.

The Bill moved by Patricia Hajabakiga, Member from Rwanda aims at providing a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment through the prohibition of manufacturing, sale, importation and use of polythene materials.

Justifying the move to have the regional law in place, Hajabakiga stated that the Bill is intended to control the use of polythenes while advocating for the total ban of plastics.

The mover notes several dangers of plastics and polythene materials notably soil degradation through burning of wastes, harmful emissions of toxics and the endangering of human and animal lives.

She further indicates that while plastics can be burned, they emit chemicals and the corresponding photo-degradation has consequential impact on human and infrastructure.
The MP says countries such as Bangladesh, Botswana, Israel, Rwanda and France among others have since enacted a similar law.

The Chairperson of the Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources Committee, Hon Safina Kwekwe whose Committee the Assembly mandated to look through the Bill, remarked that the Committee had met various stakeholders in the Partner States during the public hearings.

The meetings were called to create awareness of plastics and visit plastic manufacturers with a view to interfacing with them and suggesting for improvements on the Bill

In its report, the Committee states that Rwanda which has an existing law in place supported the Bill while requesting for inclusion of a clause on alternatives to polythene materials as well as an incentive programme.

Uganda on its part, enacted a law for the control of polythene materials in 2009 although the law is yet to be fully implemented. There are challenges with respect to disposal of such wastes owing to absence of recycling facilities, the Committee reported.

Stakeholders in Kenya were of the view that while polythenes are an environmental menace, a balance needs to be struck between eradicating them on the one side and the promotion and protection of investments on the other.  Generally, the stakeholders in Kenya suggested adjustment to specifications of polythene materials other than total ban and the introduction of a levy to allow the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to manage the waste.

The United Republic of Tanzania generally supports the Bill on the understanding that only plastic bags should be banned and not all polythene materials. The same is the case with the Republic of Burundi. In Zanzibar, the report notes – issues concerning the environment are non-union and in 2008, the isle took the initiative to ban the use of plastics with a three year transitional period provided for in the law, expiring last year.

Stakeholders during public hearings however raised counter arguments including loss of income, jobs and reduced revenue affecting the economies. The issue of measuring of the microns, the House was told, is expensive even though it was suggested that balancing of revenues earned by governments compared to the very act of checking the environment should be taken into consideration.

During debate, majority of Members rose in support of the Bill.   Hon Emerence Bucumi hailed the Assembly’s decision to protect the environment noting that the region should emulate Rwanda’s example.  “We must protect the environment and share common interests in our desire to ensure a healthy environment, Hon Bucumi said.  Hon Christophe Bazivamo remarked that plastic bags were not only a menace to the environment but also harmed livestock as well.  Other Members in support were Hon. Dr. George Nangale and Hon Margaret Zziwa.

The Minister for EAC Hon Peter Munya reiterated the support of the Council of Ministers to the Bill.  “Polythene waste is a major hindrance in urban and rural areas and attempts to ensure solid waste management is thus essential and welcome.  The envisaged law in the Council’s view, shall control pollution and save both flora and fauna, he said.  Further attempts to ban the plastics in the region have not been entirely successful in the Partner States save for Rwanda and it is now time to collectively act”, Hon Munya said.

The Minister also presented mind boggling statistics of the use of plastic bags noting that the continent was most affected.

Amendments that sailed through during the debate include a change in title with the replacement of the word polythene with plastic to read “The East African Community Plastic Control Bill”.  This, Members agree has a wider scope and is consequential.

The Bill shall now go through the succeeding stages of assent with the Speaker of the Assembly expected to submit the amended /Assent copies to the Heads of State for assent.  Should it be assented (signed) to by the five Heads of State, then it shall become law.  In event that one or some (or all) Heads of State do not assent to the Bill then it shall be returned to the Assembly.

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President Mwai Kibaki of Kernya has addressed members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) inKampalatoday.

While addressing EALA members, President Kibaki called for economic diversification among the community member states ofRwanda,Kenya,Uganda,BurundiandTanzania.

Kibaki is the chairperson of the East African Community Heads of State Summit and he said that EAC member states need to embrace a lot of issues forEast Africato succeed in development.

He says EAC member states need to embrace tourism, improve Information Communication Technology, infrastructure, agriculture and economic diversification among others.

Kibaki also noted that the ordinary citizens in the EAC have not yet seen the importance of the East African Community integration.

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Its application to enter into the bloc was accepted last month according to president Museveni. The new African country was allowed into the EAC because of the factor of proximity.

The EAC act provides that any country to join EAC block must be bordering with a member country-Southern Sudan boarders with the Republic of Uganda and Kenya .

Museveni has today told his cabinet that many countries are struggling to join the EAC block because of its growing influence on the continent but the hindering factor is the clause of geographical proximity.

By Christine Kate

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