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EAC Secretary General meets Aga Khan Representative in Nairobi

East African Community Secretariat; Nairobi, Kenya; 12 April 2017:

The East African Community (EAC) Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko met the Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan in the Republic of Kenya, Dr. Azim Lakhani on Tuesday 11th April, 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya.

The meeting was a follow-up of the Secretary General’s visit to His Highness the Aga Khan on 11th November 2016, where the Secretary General and His Highness the Aga Khan explored the possibility of expanding the Aga Khan Integrated Health Systems across all the EAC Partner States, especially in secondary cities like Kisumu, Mombasa, Arusha, Mwanza, Entebbe, Jinja, Butare and Ngozi, among others.

Amb. Mfumukeko had also requested capacity building support from His Highness the Aga Khan to the East African Community through scholarship programmes to enhance capacity of staff in different projects and programmes.

The two officials discussed in detail the Financing Agreement signed recently between the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the French Co-operation Agency (AFD) for the expansion of hospitals in Kisumu and Mombasa worth USD28 Million. Another Financing Agreement to expand the Aga Khan hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, had already been signed and implementation is on-going.

In Investment Promotion Service (IPS), especially in the areas of Agro-processing by the Aga Khan, Dr. Lakhani informed the Secretary General that currently, AKDN had an Export Agro-processing industry to empower rural areas from production to export. This is already being implemented in Kenya with a programme of 7,000 farmers involved through Premier Food Inc (food processing); Frigoken (vegetable processing) and All fruit (fruits processing), amongst others.

The Secretary General urged AKDN to ensure similar programmes are replicated in other EAC Partner States. In this regard, it was agreed that an EAC Delegation would visit the AKDN Food Processing Plant in Ruiru and Murang’a in Kenya with a view to rolling it out to other Partner States.


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Notes to Editor: 

The East African Community and Aga Khan Development Network have a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2012 specifying the areas of cooperation.  The areas include the following, amongst others: 


(i) Poverty reduction, employment creation and income generation programmes in selected regions of the EAC Partner States through stronger regional and local markets by investing in infrastructure, social and educational enterprises, media and communications, financial services, among others; 



(ii) Enhancement of quality standards in the fields of education and health through public-private-partnerships and establishment of Centres of Excellence; 



(iii) Promotion of the expansion of the Aga Khan University in East Africa through various campuses; and 



(iiii) Creation and promotion of mechanisms for common accreditation in EAC for professional and institutions, especial in the domain of education and healthcare.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Regional Programme for Promotion of Maritime Security in the Eastern and Southern African and Indian Ocean (ESA-IO)

East African Community Secretariat; Bagatelle, Mauritius; 12 April 2017:

“The recent events [with three acts of piracy off the Somali coasts after five years of calm], reminded us that maritime insecurity remains a major challenge in the Western Indian Ocean. That is why we must not slacken our efforts”.

On the occasion of the opening of the fifth Steering Committee of the Regional Programme for the Promotion of Maritime Security (MASE), on the 6th of April 2017 in Bagatelle (Mauritius), Indian Ocean Commission’s (IOC) General-Secretary, Hamada Madi, enjoined the regional organizations and the countries of the Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, as well as the international community to “remain mobilised in our region that is strategic for world trade”. 

Indeed, “our region is crisscrossed by many maritime highways. For our countries, maritime trade, fisheries and seaside tourism are essential for our economies. The added value of the EU-financed MASE Programme lies in the fact that it is covering all aspects of maritime security and safety”, said the IOC General-Secretary. In this respect, he welcomes the operationalization of the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre in Madagascar and the Regional Maritime Operational Coordination Centre in Seychelles, two useful tools for securing maritime zones. 

“We have a range of myriad issues taking place off the coast of Somalia, that is not only piracy but illegal fishing, arms and human trafficking which continue to challenge the region. I do hope together we shall overcome”, declared Ambassador Tewolde Gebremeskel, Director of IGAD Peace and Security Division.

IGAD thus committed to redouble its efforts to working with the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the IOC within the MASE Programme in order to achieve practical results in the realm of security and governance in the maritime domain as well as in social and economic domains such as livelihoods for coastal communities that are the causal factor of maritime criminality.

Confirming that the root causes of piracy is at land, the EU Ambassador Marjaana Sall recalled that the European Union was the largest donor in Somalia, with over EUR 1.2 billion spent on development and capacity building. She also underlined EU overall contribution to maritime security in the region, in particular with the MASE Programme.

The fifth Steering Committee made it possible to take stock of the progresses of the MASE Programme activities, as well to start the process regarding the next Programmes on maritime security and safety in ports to be funded by the 11th European Development Fund.

The members of the MASE Programme’s Steering Committee noted the IGAD’s commitment to engage with the new Somalia Federal Government at the highest level, and its will to continue engaging with the Federal Maritime Security Coordination Committees and the Regional States, in order to realize optimum Result 1 outcomes.

The Steering Committee also noted with interest the offer by the Republic of Mauritius to host a Center of Excellence for prison staff training. ESA-IO Chiefs of Prisons will visit the Prisons Training School in the course of their 2nd Meeting to be held in Mauritius under the coordination of EAC in late April 2017.

Furthermore, it has been recommended that COMESA and EAC should benefit from the possible synergies in the implementation of their respective activities in the MASE Programme supporting Law Enforcement Agencies, notably the financial regulation institutions and legal and judiciary bodies.

Finally, the members of the Steering Committee support the development of a good collaboration between MASE, through the IOC’s Anti-Piracy Unit, and Crimario, the EU-funded Critical Maritime Routes in the Indian Ocean Programme, that should continue as part of the operationalization of the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre and the Regional Maritime Operational Coordination Centre.


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Notes to Editor: 

The MASE Programme aims at promoting maritime security and safety in the Western Indian Ocean. Coordinated by IGAD, it comprises five result areas implemented by ESA-IO regional organizations:  

  • Result 1 – IGAD: Alternative livelihoods through vocational development initiatives and advocacy against piracy are supported; maritime coordination mechanisms are reinforced in Somalia;
  • Result 2 – EAC: National & regional legal, legislative and infrastructural capabilities for arrest, transfer, detention and procesution of pirates are developed and strengthened;
  • Result 3 – COMESA: Regional capacity to disrupt the financial networks of pirate leaders and their financier while also addressing the structural vulnerability factors and minimize the economic impact of piracy is strengthened;
  • Result 4 – IOC: National and regional capacity for maritime tasks and support functions are enhanced;
  • Result 5 – IOC: A regional mechanism for coordination and exchange of information is developed.

 The regional organizations (IGAD, IOC, EAC and COMESA), implementing this Programme financed by the EU in the amount of 37.5 million EUR for the 2013-2020 period, are closely collaborating with numerous key players for security and development, including EU missions (EUNAVFOR Atalanta and EUCAPNESTOR), UN Agencies (UNODC, FAO), Interpol.

For more information, please contact:

IOC Communication Unit: (+230) 402 61 00 /
communication [at] coi-ioc.org">communication [at] coi-ioc.org
www.commissionoceanindien.org /
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Read and download the leaflet here
Read the IOC’s annual report 2016
 

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

EAC Secretary General pays courtesy call on CEO of Trademark East Africa in Nairobi

East African Community Secretariat; Nairobi, Kenya; 12 April 2017:

The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko paid a courtesy call on the Trademark East Africa (TMEA) CEO, Mr. Frank Matsaert on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017, at the Trade Mark East Africa Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

The two officials had a lengthy discussion on a number of issues including the support to the East African Community by TMEA and the importance of Partnership between the two parties.

The Secretary General briefed Mr. Frank Matsaert on the reforms being undertaken at the EAC and that EAC was now ISO certified. He disclosed to the TMEA CEO that the impact of reforms had led to cost reduction in the way EAC does business and emphasized that the reform agenda will continue to ensure efficiency in the use of available resources.

On  management of different projects at the EAC Secretariat, Amb. Mfumukeko informed Mr. Matsaert that the Projects Coordination Unit will be fully functional by July 2017. On his part, Mr. Frank Matsaert emphasized that TMEA takes EAC partnership seriously, and congratulated the EAC for passing the EU Fiduciary Risk Assessment, which TMEA supported.

Mr. Matsaert informed the Secretary General that a commitment had been made to support the initial phase of operationalization of the Projects Coordination Unit at the EAC Secretariat. “Already a consultant had been recruited by TMEA to help in the finalization of the design of the unit”. The report will be finalized by end of April 2017, added the CEO.

Mr. Matsaert also expressed his happiness on the video conferencing facility installed at the EAC Secretariat and in the Partner States supported by TMEA that is working and contributing to the reduction of costs.

He made a request to the Secretary General for computation of the savings by the video conferencing facility since it started operating. “There is need to double up the video conferencing facility to allow two or three meetings at the same time.”

The Secretary General and the Trade Mark CEO agreed to work more closely with other Development Partners to avoid any potential duplication of programs. They also noted the need for a joint meeting especially between EAC, TMEA and European Union (EU) to identify areas of joint implementation.

The two officials also agreed to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between EAC and TMEA. They identified level of engagement especially at Projects Coordination Committee as one area that needed to be revisited.

Mr. Matsaert told the Secretary General that TMEA is planning to send a high level mission to visit EAC for deeper discussions.


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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Regional Training on Malabo Declaration on Agriculture begins in Arusha

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 10 April 2017:

African countries have been called upon to develop the necessary tools to ensure the implementation of the June 2014 African Union Heads of State Malabo Declaration on Agriculture Growth and Transformation in Africa.

Mr. Mbosonge Mwenechanya, the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development (CAADP) Focal Point at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), said that African governments need to know where their countries were on the implementation of the Malabo Declaration and why.

Mr. Mwenechanya said that agriculture was the engine of economic growth, development and transformation for most African countries, adding that without visionary leadership, African agriculture would suffer.

Mr. Mwenechanya said that agriculture provides the most diverse base for industrialization and the biggest potential for poverty reduction and employment creation in Africa.

He said that within the COMESA region, for instance, agriculture is the source of 50% of the raw materials for industry and employs 70% of the workforce.

Mr. Mwenechanya was addressing delegates during the opening session of a five-day regional training workshop on the preparation of the Biennial Report on the Malabo Declaration in Arusha, Tanzania.

The workshop which is being attended by delegates from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda has drawn participants from CAADP Member States, African Union and three Regional Economic Communities, namely COMESA, East African Community and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.

In his remarks, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, said that the EAC had made steady progress in embracing the CAADP agenda.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Productive Sectors, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Havugimana, Hon. Bazivamo disclosed that the EAC had realized steady progress with the support of the African Union Commission, NEPAD and USAID.

“The EAC Secretariat is working closely with Partner States and has developed key CAADP instruments including the EAC CAADP Compact and Results Framework. A draft Regional Agriculture Investment Plan (RAIP) has been developed and is currently undergoing validation at the national level in the EAC Partner States,” said Hon. Bazivamo.


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Notes to Editor: 

The Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all. In Maputo, Mozambique, in 2003, the African Union (AU) Heads of Summit made the first declaration on CAADP as an integral part of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

The AU Summit of June 2014 gave renewed legitimacy and mandate to CAADP as Africa’s policy framework for agriculture growth and transformation for shared prosperity – the Heads of State adopted the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

EAC Official commends Parter States for Promoting Tourism and Wildlife Management Sector

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 10 April 2017:|
The Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, has commended the EAC Partner States for their willingness to promote Tourism and Wildlife Management sector in a coordinated manner as illustrated by their renewed commitment in supporting regional tourism development and wildlife conservation, in the overall context advancing the EAC integration agenda.

The Deputy Secretary General, who was addressing Partner States’ delegates attending the just concluded 7th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Tourism and Wildlife Management in Kampala, Uganda, reiterated the need to continuously market the region as a single destination and the need for the region to enhance its marketing strategies not only internationally but also regionally.

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EAC holds 23rd Kwibuka Commemoration of Genocide Against the Tutsi

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 10 April 2017:
The East African Community in collaboration with the Arusha and Moshi Rwandan Community and the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) commemorated the 23rd Anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi on 7th April 2017, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

This year, Rwanda marks the 23rd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Themed “Remember the Genocide against the Tutsi – Fight Genocide Ideology – Build on Our Progress”, the commemoration was an occasion to pay tribute to the more than one million innocent lives lost through the heinous extermination of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.

The commemoration began with a walk to remember from the East African Community Secretariat Headquarters to Arusha City Centre followed by a wreath laying ceremony led by the Regional Commissioner, Arusha, Mr. Mrisho Gambo; the High Commissioner of Rwanda in Tanzania, Mr. Eugene Kayihura; the EAC Secretary General represented by the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo; and the MICT Registrar, Mr. Olufemi Elias.

The East African Community (EAC) staff led by Hon. Jesca Eriyo and Hon. Christopher Bazivamo; Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, participated in a somber ‘walk to remember’ from the EAC Headquarters to Arusha City center.

On return to the venue, the front-liners of the ‘walk to remember’ lay flowers at the Genocide Memorial Plaque at the EAC headquarters, after which commemorative candles were lit in honour of the lives lost during the horrendous genocide.

The commemoration brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders including local government, religious groups, Trademark East Africa, GIZ, Rwandans from the diaspora, Arusha and Moshi Rwandan Community, EAC staff, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, University youth and schools children.

Speaking during the commemoration, Arusha Regional Commissioner, Mr. Mrisho Gambo called for East African Community to be at the forefront of preventing conflicts and fighting against genocide ideology and denial in the community that do escalate into mass murders, extermination and the genocide as we experienced in Rwanda in 1994.

“Let me register my appreciation to the Secretariat for having taken it over as EAC family to own this commemoration event as you have demonstrated by hosting us here in your premises’’.

Mr. Gambo urged the EAC Secretariat to continue in that spirit by putting in place policies geared towards preventing conflicts in the region and more specifically to adopt measures to combat the spread of genocide ideology and its denial in the Community.

“I am happy that there is a good number of youth in this room. The youth are usually misled and used in cases of violence, conflicts and as we witnessed in Rwanda the youth were very active in the killings of their peer innocent children during the genocide. It was awful, added Regional Commissioner.

He called upon the EAC leadership to do all it takes to design programs to support the youth to grow into responsible citizens. Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, H.E. Ambassador Eugene Kayihura thanked the EAC Executive for taking the lead in organizing the event and standing with the Rwandan Community in this year’s commemoration.

Amb. Kayihura disclosed that Rwanda experienced a tragedy in which over a Million innocent Tutsis were savagely exterminated in a very horrific and systematic manner, during a three months’ Genocidal killing from 7th April to 4th July in 1994; meaning on average, 10,000 people were killed per day, yet all this happened as the entire world was simply looking.

He informed the invited guests that for the last 23 years Rwandans chose a completely different path of resilience and courage necessary to get solutions for their problems, rejecting the rotten politics of hatred and divisionism, thus, rebuilding Rwanda from the ashes.

Amb. Kayihura expressed his appreciation to the governments and the people of East African Community for standing in solidarity with the government and people of Rwanda during trying moment. “Not forgetting the African Union (AU) and the United Nation (UN) who have also set apart this day the 7th of April every year on their calendars as a special day to commemorate the 1994 genocide against Tutsi”, noted the Ambassador.

On her part, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo said that as the region and world at large commemorate for the 23rd time, it is important to reaffirm the fundamental truth that we are all created equal and we have certain alienable rights that include the right to life and no one has the right to take it away as it was done 23 years ago from the innocent children, men and women of Rwanda.

“Let’s join the Government and people of Rwanda to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Genocide against Tutsi and to encourage all EAC Partner States to be part of the event”.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sector, Hon Christophe Bazivamo said the EAC region in general and the Government and the People of Rwanda in particular ask the world to stand against genocide denial and its ideology and to recognize the incredible bravery of those who rescued others during the genocide – at great risk to themselves and their families.


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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

EAC Partner States directed to formulate National Kiswahili Language Policies

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 07 April 2017:
The 35th Meeting of the East African Community Council of Ministers took place from 30th March to 4th April 2017 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Among other highlights was the key resolution of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on promoting the use of Kiswahili and adopting it as one of the official languages of the Community.

The Council considered amendment of Article 137 of the EAC Treaty to include Kiswahili as one of the Official Languages of the Community and directed Partner States to formulate National Kiswahili Language Policies and enhance the use of Kiswahili in official domains as well as initiate the process of institutionalization of Kiswahili as one of the EAC Official Languages through the establishment of National Kiswahili Councils and National Kiswahili Associations.

In August 2016, EALA passed a Resolution to urge the Summit of EAC to amend the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community to provide for Kiswahili as one of the official Languages of the Community.In January 2017, the resolution sailed through at the 4th Meeting-5th Session of the 3rd Assembly held in Kampala, Uganda during which, the lawmakers underscored the need to elevate Kiswahili as one of the official languages of EAC from its current status of lingua franca.

Article 119 of the EAC Treaty, provides for the development and promotion of indigenous languages especially Kiswahili as a lingua franca of the region. Kiswahili is not only recognized as a unifying language spoken by East Africans but it is rich in dialect and expression.

This therefore means that Kiswahili will soon be adopted as an official language within the Community as soon as the EAC Summit of Heads of State amend the treaty to accommodate the new resolution. After amendment, Partner States are expected to facilitate adoption of the language at the national level.

Adopting Kiswahili as the second official language within the region will therefore mean a step towards uniting the people of the region. It will also deepen and widen integration within the region. Embracing the language at the regional level will increase the participation of the people of East Africa in the affairs of the community.


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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

EAC Council of Ministers Appoints Staff to the Community’s Organs and Institutions

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 07 April 2017:
The East African Community Council of Ministers has appointed 31 East Africans to various positions at the EAC Secretariat.

The 35th Meeting of the Council which met at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania from 30th March-4th April, 2017 also appointed three (3) members of staff to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and one to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).

The Council further appointed four officers to the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, and one officer each to the East African Science and Technology Commission and the East African Health Research Commission.

The appointments to the Secretariat will address a biting staff shortage at the Secretariat which was occasioned by the departure of 26 members of staff due to retirement either on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years or the expiry of their fixed term contracts.

The appointments were made after interviews conducted by the EAC Ad Hoc Service Commission which draws Commissioners from Public Service Commissions in the Partner States.

Among the appointees is Mr. Kenneth Apollo Bagamuhunda as the Director General, Customs and Trade to replace Mr. Peter Kiguta who retired on 1st December, 2016. Mr. Bagamuhunda was previously the Director of Customs at the Secretariat.

Mr. Kamugisha Kazaura is the new Director, Infrastructure replacing Mr. Philip Wambugu whose contract expired on 1st February, 2017.

Ms. Ruth Mtoi Simba is the new Director, Human Resources and Administration replacing Mr. Joseph Edison Ochwada who exited the Secretariat on 19th March, 2017. Ms. Simba was until her appointment the Principal Human Resource Officer.

Professional staff at the EAC are recruited on a five-year term, renewable once subject to a mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

The Council resolved that the appointments take effect from 4th April, 2017 and directed the Secretariat to conduct due diligence for the successful candidates before confirmation of their appointments.

The Council further directed the EAC Secretariat to ensure that an induction programme is conducted before the appointed staff assume office.

Full list of the appointed staff is available here


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For more information, please contact:

East African Community
EAC Close, Afrika Mashariki Road
P.O. Box 1096
Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania
Tel: +255 (0)27 216 2100
Fax: +255 (0)27 216 2190
Email: eac [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

EAC to start issuing EA e-Passport January 2018

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanznaia; 07 April 2017:
The 35th EAC Council of Minister’s meeting has directed Partner States to commence issuance the New EA e-Passport by 31st January 2018, after the consideration of the different status of preparedness by the Partner States during their recent meeting in Arusha.

The Council directives came on the backdrop of the 17th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State directed the Partner States to commence issuance of the New EA e-Passport by 1st January, 2017 and implement the phase out programme for the current machine readable East African and National Passports from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2018.

According to the 35th EAC Council of Minister’s report, Republic of Burundi reported that through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement had completed the process of procuring the EA e-Passport booklets and is ready to commence issuance by 3rd April 2017.

The Republics of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda reported to commence issuance of the New International EA e-passport not later than April 2017 while the United Republic of Tanzania will be ready to commence the issuance of EA e–Passport by 1st January 2018.

EA e-Passport is expected to boost free movement of people across the region and it will be in line with implementation of the Common Market protocol which guaranteed the right to move between countries in East Africa.

The EAC e–Passport will have Diplomatic, Service and Ordinary categories and is different from the current machine readable passport being issued by the Partner States. It will be valid for up to 10 years while the Diplomatic passport and service passport will be valid according to specific term of the service of the holder.

The standard international e-Passport will have a chip that holds the same information that is printed on the passport’s data page, the holder’s name, date of birth, and other biographic information. It will also contains a biometric identifier and have a digital photograph of the holder and security features to prevent unauthorised reading or “scanning” of data stored.

The new EAC travel document will come in red, green and sky blue —the colours of the EAC flag — but with text and national emblems, in gold to complete its face.The colour of the passport will depend on categories. For instance, EAC diplomats will carry a passport that is red in colour, green for officials and sky blue for ordinary people.

The outer front cover will have the words ‘East African Community’ in gold on top and below the name of the issuing Partner States will be pasted.


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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Candidates appointed for various positions at the EAC Secretariat, EACJ and EALA

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 06 April 2017:
The 35th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers that concluded on 4th April 2017 appointed the following successful candidates for the various positions at the EAC Secretariat and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) with effect from 4th April, 2017 (EAC/CM 35/Decision 118)

EAC Secretariat

S/N

Position

Grade

Candidate Name

Partner State

 

Gender

1.

Director Infrastructure

P5

Kamugisha Kazaura

Tanzania

M

2

Director of Human Resources & Administration

P5

Ruth Mtoi Simba

Tanzania

F

3

Principal Planning and  Research Officer

P4

Aime Uwase

Rwanda

M

4

Legislative Draftsman

P4

Kibirige Denis Kawooya 

Uganda

M

5

Principal Customs Officer (Procedures and Facilitation)

P3

Arthemon Ndizeye

Burundi

M

6

Principal Librarian

P3

Hesbon Shikuku Kionge

Kenya

M

7

Principal Education Officer

P3

James Otieno Jowi

Kenya

M

8

Principal Tourism Officer

P3

Simon  Wathigo Kiarie

Kenya

M

9

Principal Information Technology Officer

P3

Daniel Murenzi

Rwanda

M

10

Principal Resource Mobilization Officer

P3

Beata Mukabaranga

Rwanda

F

11

Principal Customs Officer (Compliance and Enforcement)

P3

Flavia Busingye

Rwanda

F

12

Principal International Relations Officer

P3

Suma Watson Mwakyusa

Tanzania

F

13

Principal Agricultural Economist

P3

Fahari Gilbert Marwa

Tanzania

M

14

Principal  Trade Officer (Internal Trade)

P3

Monica Mihigo

Tanzania

F

15

Principal Political Affairs Officer

P3

David Michael Onen

Uganda

M

16

Principal Standards Officer

P3

Apolot Stella

Uganda

F

17

Principal Economist (Investment and Private Sector)

P3

Charles Omusana

Uganda

M

18

Senior Statistician

P2

Beatrice Niyonsaba

Burundi

F

19

Senior Meteorologist

P2

James Wewa Kivuva

Kenya

M

20

Senior Records Officer

P2

Caroline Mbula Wambua

Kenya

F

21

Senior Human Resources Officer (P2)

P2

Theophile Bazimaziki

Rwanda

M

22

Senior Materials Pavement Officer

P2

Suleiman Ahmed Athumani

Tanzania

M

23

Senior Accountant

P2

Alexis Songomwa

Burundi

M

24

Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

P2

Samson Manirakiza

Burundi

M

25

Senior Livestock Officer

P2

Dr. David Balikowa

Uganda

M

26

Senior Energy Officer

P2

Byempaka Elsam Turyahabwe

Uganda

M

27

Customs Officer (Procedures and Facilitation)

P1

Evariste Munyampundu

Rwanda

M

28

Customs Officer (Tariff and Valuation)

P1

Anthony Aminiel Minja

Tanzania

M

29

Budget  Officer

P1

Beatrice Jerono Rono

Kenya

F

 East African Court of Justice (EACJ)

S/N

Position

Grade

Candidate Name

Partner State

Gender

1

Accountant - EACJ

P1

Alusaria Daniel Swai

Tanzania

F

The 35th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers appointed the following successful candidate for the position of Director General - Customs and Trade  at the EAC Secretariat with effect from 4th April, 2017 (EAC/CM 35/Decision 119)

 

S/No

Position

Grade

Candidate Name

Partner State

1.

Director General (Customs and Trade)

D1

Kenneth Apollo Bagamuhunda

Uganda

The 35th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers also appointed the following successful candidates for the various positions at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) with effect from 4th April, 2017 (EAC/CM 35/Decision 125)

S/N

Candidate’s Name

Position

Partner State

1.

Nahayo Anatole

Senior Research Officer

Burundi

2.

Patrick Muchoki

Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms

Kenya

3.

Ali Dotto Ntegwa

Accountant

Tanzania


- ENDS -

For more information, please contact:

East African Community
EAC Close, Afrika Mashariki Road
P.O. Box 1096
Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania
Tel: +255 (0)27 216 2100
Fax: +255 (0)27 216 2190
Email: eac [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.


East African Community
EAC Close
Afrika Mashariki Road
P.O. Box 1096
Arusha
United Republic of Tanzania

Tel: +255 (0)27 216 2100
Fax: +255 (0)27 216 2190
Email: eac@eachq.org