JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ: 19TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
THEME: ENHANCING SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR DEEPER INTEGRATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT FOR DEEPER INTGRATION OF THE COMMUNITY
1. THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE, THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN. PRESIDENT DR. JOHN POMBE JOSEPH MAGUFULI OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT GASTON SINDIMWO OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI, HON. JAMES MUSONI, MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA REPRESENTING PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME HELD THE 19TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE AT THE SPEKE RESORT, MUNYONYO, REPUBLIC OF UGANDA ON 23RD FEBRUARY, 2018. THE HEADS OF STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MET IN A CORDIAL ENVIRONMENT.
2. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS COVERING THE PERIOD 19TH MAY, 2017 – 22ND FEBRUARY, 2018 AND COMMENDED THE COUNCIL FOR PROGRESS MADE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
3. THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED A REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PREVIOUS DECISIONS OF THE SUMMIT AND EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE SLOW IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT ALL OUTSTANDING DECISIONS AND REPORT TO THE 20TH SUMMIT.
4. THE SUMMIT ASSENTED TO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY CUSTOMS MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016, THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL, 2016, THE EAC APPROPRIATION BILL 2016, WHICH HAD BEEN PARTIALLY ASSENTED TO. THE SUMMIT ALSO ASSENTED TO THE EAC APPROPRIATION BILL 2017 AND THE EAC SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL 2017.
5. THE SUMMIT NOTED AND ENDORSED NINE KEY INVESTMENT PRIORITIES AREAS FOR HEALTH AND DIRECTED THE PARTNER STATES TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION. WITH REGARD TO INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW AND ON-GOING PRIORITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE REGION.
6. THE SUMMIT GAVE IMPETUS TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EAC BY DIRECTING THE COUNCIL AND PARTNER STATES TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY BY ROLLING OUT ALL PRODUCTS AND ALL CUSTOMS REGIMES. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE PARTNER STATES TO EXPEDITE THE AMENDMENT OF THEIR NATIONAL POLICIES, LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO COMPLY WITH THE COMMON MARKET PROTOCOL.
7. CONCERNING THE MONETARY UNION, THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO EXPEDITE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONETARY INSTITUTE AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS ACCORDING TO THE ROADMAP OF THE EAST AFRICAN MONETARY UNION. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI TO RATIFY THE EAC DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENT AND DEPOSIT THE INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION BY JULY 2018.
8. THE SUMMIT NOTED THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EAC INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO EXPEDITE IT.
9. THE SUMMIT NOTED THE REPORT ON THE REVIEW OF THE EAST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (EADB) CHARTER TO STREAMLINE IT INTO THE EAC MAIN STRUCTURE. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO FOLLOW UP ON THE MATTER AND REPORT AT THE NEXT SUMMIT.
10. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE ON-GOING INITIATIVE OF THE COUNCIL ON A SUSTAINABLE FINANCING MECHANISM FOR THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY.
11. THE SUMMIT NOTED A REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ON FAST-TRACKING THE INTEGRATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN INTO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO FINALISE THIS WORK AND REPORT TO THE NEXT SUMMIT.
12. THE SUMMIT NOTED THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL THAT THE VERIFICATION EXERCISE FOR THE ADMISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA INTO THE EAC HAS NOTBEEN UNDERTAKEN AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO CONCLUDE THIS MATTER AND REPORT TO THE NEXT SUMMIT.
13. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON THE PROGRESS OF THE CONSTITUTION-MAKING PROCESS OF THE EAC POLITICAL CONFEDERATION AND DIRECTED PARTNER STATES TO NOMINATE CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERTS AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO FUND THE PROCESS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL MAKING.
14. THE SUMMIT TOOK NOTE OF THE PROGRESS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN THE EAC REGION TO REDUCE IMPORTATION OF USED MOTOR VEHICLES FROM OUTSIDE THE REGION AND TO MAKE THE REGION MORE COMPETITIVE AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS AND REPORT TO THE 20TH SUMMIT.
15. THE SUMMIT, WITH REGARD TO PROMOTING THE COTTON, TEXTILE, APPAREL AND LEATHER INDUSTRIES IN THE REGION, TO MAKE THE REGION MORE COMPETITIVE AND CREATE JOBS, DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPETITIVE DOMESTIC TEXTILE AND LEATHER SECTOR TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, NEW AND QUALITY OPTIONS OF CLOTHING AND LEATHER PRODUCTS TO EAC CITIZENS. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT THIS DECISION AND PUT IN PLACE A MECHANISM THAT SUPPORTS TEXTILE AND LEATHER MANUFACTURING IN EAC AND REPORT THE 20TH SUMMIT.
16. THE SUMMIT LAUNCHED THE 5TH EAC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2016/17-2020/21 AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
17. THE SUMMIT DECIDED THAT THERE SHALL ONLY BE TWO DEPUTY SECRETARIES GENERAL AT THE EAC WHO SHALL BE RECRUITED COMPETITIVELY ON ROTATIONAL BASIS. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO FOLLOW UP THIS MATTER AND FAST-TRACK THE RESTRUCTURING.
18. THE SUMMIT, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 24 OF THE TREATY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAC, APPOINTED HON. MR. JUSTICE CHARLES AYAKO NYACHAE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AS A JUDGE IN THE FIRST INSTANCE DIVISION OF THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE AND WITNESSED THE SWEARING-IN INTO OFFICE.
19. THE SUMMIT DESIGNATED HON. DR. JUSTICE FAUSTIN NTEZILYAYO AS THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL JUDGE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE WITH EFFECT FROM 1ST JULY, 2018.
20. THEIR EXCELLENCIES THE EAC HEADS OF STATE COMMENDED HON. JESCA ERIYO OUTGOING DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL AND HON. JUSTICE ISAAC LENAOLA OUTGOING JUDGE OF THE FIRST INSTANCE DIVISION OF THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY.
21. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT ON EUROPEAN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP (EU-EAC EPA) FROM H.E. YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI AND DECIDED THAT THE EAC CONTINIUES TO ENGAGE WITH THE EU FOR SATISFACTORY CLARIFICATION OF CONCERNS OF SOME PARTNER STATES ON THE EPAs. THE CHAIR OF SUMMIT WAS MANDATED TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER AND IN THE EVENT THAT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY FORWARD IS NOT REACHED, THE COMMUNITY SHALL EXPLORE THE USE OF VARIABLE GEOMETRY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EPAs.
22. THE SUMMIT APPRECIATES THE WORK DONE BY THE FACILITATOR, H.E. PRESIDENT BENJAMIN MKAPA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, AND THE MEDIATOR H.E. PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI IN THE INTER- BURUNDI DIALOGUE. THE EAC WILL UNDERTAKE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO FUND THE DIALOGUE PROCESS. THE EAC SHOULD CONTINUE LEADING THE PROCESS OF ENSURING CONVERGENCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI. THE SUMMIT CALLS UPON ALL THE BURUNDI PARTIES TO EXPEDITIOUSLY CONCLUDE THE DIALOGUE UNDER THE FACILITATOR AND MEDIATOR. THE SUMMIT APPRECIATES THE SUPPORT OF PARTNERS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS.
23. THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, PRESIDENT DR. JOHN POMBE JOSEPH MAGUFULI OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT H.E GASTON SINDIMWO OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI, AND HON. JAMES MUSONI, MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, REPRESENTING PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME, THANKED THEIR HOST FOR THE HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THEM AND THEIR DELEGATIONS DURING THEIR STAY IN KAMPALA.
DONE AT KAMPALA, THIS 23RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2018.