The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo has disclosed that the region is developing a robust climate information network that bridges climate service providers, producers and users.
The process involves partnerships with key stakeholders such as Feminine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET), Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development/SERVIR, IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre, through the support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Taking part in a Panel Discussion in a side event themed Innovative Adaptation: How African Leaders are Tapping State-of-the-Art U.S. Climate Science and Data to build resilience organized by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the US Centre in the ongoing 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) taking place in Bab Ighli in Marrakech, Morocco, Hon Eriyo said EAC is an agricultural economy whereby about 80% of the population live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. “This illustrates how the regional economy is vulnerable to climate change and therefore the need to implement adaptation measure”.
Hon. Eriyo informed the audience on the ongoing climate vulnerability and impacts assessment (VIA) study which seeks to climate proof key productive sectors, promote alternative livelihoods and inform adaptation planning.
The Deputy Secretary General also applauded the USAID Support especially under Feed the Future programme which is implemented in line with agriculture and food security action plan.
She said the USAID supported interventions seek to improve the policy and regulatory environment for agricultural transformation and realization of the EAC regional integration agenda.
The Deputy Secretary General some of the regional challenges in adaptation programming, which include, among others; weak institutional capacity to assess vulnerability and implement climate change adaptation actions, and inadequate data/decision-support tools and frameworks for collaborative adaptation.
Other Panelists included Mr. Issifou Alfari from West Africa’s Agrometeorology, Hydrology, and Meteorology (AGRHYMET) Center; Mr. Birama Diarra from Mali’s National Directorate of Meteorology; and Ms. Fatoumata Nafo-Traore from the International Federation of Red cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Meanwhile the EAC Team at the COP22 in Marrakech led by the Deputy Secretary General, Hon. Jesca Eriyo today held bilateral meetings with several Partners that included the Washington-based Adaptation Fund, and the Swiss-based International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hon. Eriyo discussed with the Adaptation Fund officials the progress on EAC Accreditation application. She also discussed with the IUCN officials areas of deepening cooperation between the two organizations.
The East African Health Research Journal (EAHRJ) established under the East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC) of the East African Community (EAC) seeks manuscripts that addresses health issues that are relevant to the East African region.
The EAHRJ will promote and facilitate:
Application of knowledge from research to strengthen national and regional health policy and practice;
Development of human resource capacities and skills;
Exchange and dissemination of health research information; and
Advocacy of evidences generated from health research
We invite manuscripts on all topics on health. The articles can be original, review, or commentaries from experts.
Currently the EAHRC staff are working with Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (USA) to administer the journal, whereby staff from the K4Health Project which publishes the Global Health: Science and Practice Journal (GHSP) provide technical assistance and the use of its systems.
A Technical working-level bilateral meeting was held today between the officials of East African Community and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on the sidelines of the ongoing 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 12th Meeting of Parties to Kyoto Protocol (CMP12) taking place in Bab Ighli in Marrakech, Morocco.
Leading the USAID Team was Mr. John Furlow, the Senior Climate Change Specialist based in Washington, DC, while the EAC Team was led by Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, the Director of Productive Sectors and accompanied by Mr. Ladislaus Kyaruzi, the Principal Environment and Natural Resources Officer who heads the EAC Climate Change Coordination Unit, and other Senior officials.
The EAC and USAID officials discussed the ongoing projects supported by USAID and noted tremendous milestones being recorded for example in the Planning for Resilience in East Africa through Policy, Adaptation, Research, and Economic Development (PREPARED) project, which has effectively taken root in the region.
Other projects include the Aflatoxin Control Programme and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Programmes meant to ensure high quality agricultural, livestock and fishery products for intra Community trade, regional trade and external trade especially with USA under the AGOA trade facility.
The EAC Director of Productive Sectors, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, noted that the establishment of both the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) and the Project Coordination Committee (PCC) at the EAC Secretariat had greatly enhanced coordination of the various projects being supported by various partners and also improved on accountability, efficiency and value for money.
The EAC Director highlighted the 5 key priority areas for the next one year as follows; continued implementation of the Regional Climate Change Policy, which was adopted by the EAC Policy Organ in 2011; implementation of the tools developed by PREPARED on climate change vulnerability impact and strengthening data availability in the Partner States; implementation of the Anti-poaching and fight against illegal trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products strategy; sustainability of the Climate Change Coordination Unit at the EAC Secretariat; and lastly; implementation of the EAC Roadmap for implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
The EAC Director for Productive Sector, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana held bilateral talks on Wednesday 9th November 2016 with the Executive Director of the Geneva-based Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International, Mr. Rashid S. Kaukab on the sidelines of the ongoing 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 12th Meeting of Parties to Kyoto Protocol (CMP12) taking place in Bab Ighli in Marrakech, Morocco.
The two officials explored further areas of cooperation, alongside the EAC Geneva Trade and Climate Change Forum. Currently CUTS runs a bi-monthly forums of East African trade negotiators to support their informed and concerted participation on issues of their interest in World Trade Organization (WTO) debates. Besides CUTS’ technical analysis and on-demand papers, negotiators benefit from country updates providing a snapshot of the current on the ground realities of the issue.
CUTS also intend to establish the EAC Climate Change Forum for regular online meetings of East African Climate Change negotiators. Each meeting will be serviced by a technical paper and country updates. It is intended that once a year, climate negotiators will meet with trade delegates of the EAC Geneva Forum for a Trade and Climate Change Coordination Forum.
Related to this, CUTS International Geneva in collaboration with CUTS ARC Nairobi is initiating a project known as PACT EAC2 that is aimed at building the capacity of individuals, networks, and institutions to identify and promote appropriate policies for climate-aware, trade-oriented, food security-enhancing agro-value-addition in the EAC region
CUTS has also initiated a project that aims at promoting the energy sector and during the talks, the Executive Director offered to look at how they can partner with the EAC towards sustainable energy sectors in the region especially in the area of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The EAC and CUTS officials agreed to build on the discussions held and revitalize the existing collaboration between the two institutions and a standing arrangement made to ensure that among the aforementioned programmes the most relevant to the EAC region are identified and areas of collaboration agreed upon.
The EAC Secretariat has successfully held a joint side-event themed “EAC Climate Change Programmes: Showcasing Success Stories, Lessons Learned, and Future Plans to Achieving Sustainable Development” at the ongoing 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 12th Meeting of Parties to Kyoto Protocol (CMP12) at the African Pavilion in Bab Ighli, Marrakech, Morocco.
In collaboration with Partners, the EAC Secretariat showcased the achievements that have been realized in the region in a bid to strengthen resiliency and sustainability of key productive sectors in a wake of climate change.
Welcoming delegates to the side-event, the EAC Director of Productive Sector, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, said the COP22/CMP12 is providing an opportunity for region to re-negotiate and agree on the modality to contribute to Global Emission Reductions through implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). He said COP22/CMP12 represents a moment of opportunity for East Africa and Africa as a whole to assert itself in global climate governance and ensure that the implementation of the Paris Agreement are congruent with the continent’s long term sustainable development agenda.
Mr. Havugimana, who is also heading the EAC Technical Team at the COP22, said the EAC Secretariat was greatly honoured to jointly organize the side-event with USAID/PREPARED Project, GIZ, IUCN, UNFCCC and ARCOS. The event focused on the 3 thematic areas, namely; Enhancing Ambition – Pre-2020 Action; any issues that help increase and realize ambition; Promoting Implementation – Methodologies, Showcasing of Climate Action, Global Stock Take; and Providing Support to Developing Countries – Means of Implementation, Replicable Tools and Approaches.
The PREPARED USAID/Kenya and East Africa Technical Advisor, Ms. Emily Massawa highlighted to the delegates the Climate Change Adaptation Component of the Planning for Resilience in East Africa through Policy, Adaptation, Research, and Economic Development (PREPARED). She disclosed that using participatory tools to plan and implement community adaptation projects, so far they have identified climate change “hot-spots” at community-level, their risks and adaptation strategies. “With communities, we have developed adaptation options and projects and support small scale pilot climate change adaptation projects at community level (17 communities), said the USAID official.
Ms. Emily Massawa reaffirmed the objectives of PREPARED, which include among others, climate change adaptation technical capacity, policy leadership, and action readiness of regional institutions improved; resilient and sustainable management of biologically significant trans-boundary freshwater ecosystems in the East African Community region strengthened; and resilient and sustainable water supply, sanitation, and wastewater treatment services in the Lake Victoria Basin enhanced.
The EAC Renewable Energy Expert, Mr. Turyahabwe Elsam briefed the delegates on the region’s renewable energy resource potential. He said there were great opportunities in the Hydro Power, Geothermal, Biomass, Wind, Solar, and Wave Energy and disclosed that the Region had a policy target to have Renewable Energy contribute 65% of the electricity production.
The EAC Renewable Energy Expert highlighted the existing framework for renewable energy and energy efficiency development and promotion in EAE that include; Regional Strategy on Scaling Up Access to Modern Energy Services and 5 year implementation action plan; Regional Cross Border Electrification Policy; Regional Power Master Plan; and Climate Change Policy and Plan.
He disclosed that the region had robust targets for the regional strategy on scaling up access to modern energy services which include; providing access to modern cooking practices for 50% of the population that currently uses traditional cooking fuel; providing access to reliable electricity for all urban and peri-urban poor; providing access to modern energy services for all schools, clinics, hospitals and community centres; and providing access to mechanical power for productive uses for all communities.
Mr. Turyahabwe briefed the delegates on the establishment of the EAC Centre of Excellence for renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) to compliment and strengthen the ongoing EAC Partner States’ initiatives in the areas of policy and capacity development, knowledge management and raising awareness as well as investment and business promotion.
He highlighted the opportunities in renewable energy and energy efficiency development in EAC for both private and public participation that include, among others, investments in Renewable Energy for Electricity production as there is increased demand for electricity in the region plus a conducive policy regime; joining EAC government, UNIDO and ADA to support EACREEE to be fully operational; investment in solar water heating in the region, an opportunity that is still intact; and preparation of the renewable Energy Master Plan and Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan.
Presenting on the EAC Sustainable Climate Change Finance by 2020, the EAC Principal Environment and Natural Resource Officer (PENRO), Eng. Ladislaus K. Leonidas noted that climate change was one of the most pressing threats to development today and addressing it requires that countries transform their economies and grow in a different way.
He said development planning must integrate climate change issues so that policies and actions across multiple sectors and scales lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce vulnerability to climate shocks and deliver poverty reduction gains.
He argued that countries have new and expanded opportunities to finance climate change actions and that in order to take advantage of these opportunities, however, the right institutional and financial mechanisms must be in place so that resources are directed efficiently toward national climate and development priorities.
On the EAC Climate Finance, Eng. Leonidas said financial resources to implement the Policy was a key element in the implementation of the Climate Change Policy and that substantial funds will be required to support mitigation and adaptation initiatives/programmes. “Sustainable funding shall be mobilized from the development partners including multilateral agencies, bilateral partners and intergovernmental agencies and the private sector. There will also be efforts by Partner States to provide supplementary resources”.
He disclosed that EAC’s climate finance readiness activities includes; application to Adaptation Fund (AF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) for accreditation as a Regional Implementing Entity (RIE); setting and operationalization of the EAC Climate Change Fund and developing a climate change financing sustainability plan; and leading the climate change resource mobilization processes through project design, development and financing.
Meanwhile, addressing the official opening session of the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 12th Meeting of Parties to Kyoto Protocol (CMP12), Morocco’s Foreign Minister and newly elected COP22 President Salaheddine Mezouar underscored his country's willingness to host the conference as a demonstration of Africa's commitment as a whole to contribute to global efforts to tackle climate change. “It emphasizes Africa’s desire to take its destiny in hand, to reduce its vulnerability and strengthen its resilience,” he said. The Conference took off just three days after the Paris Climate Change Agreement entered into force.
Addressing the same occasion, the Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, Ms. Patricia Espinosa underlined 5 key areas in which work needs to be taken forward, namely; finance to allow developing countries to green their economies and build resilience; nationally determined contributions (national climate action plans), which need to be integrated into national policies and investment plans; support for adaptation which needs to be given higher priority; capacity building needs of developing countries, which should be tailored and specific to their needs; and lastly; full engagement of non-party stakeholders from the North and South, as they are central to the global action agenda for transformational change.
The EAC Secretary General Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko attended a High Level Committee of the European Development Fund (EDF) in Brussels, Belgium.
The EDF meeting in Brussels brought together the Secretaries General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Indian Ocean Commission(IOC), and EU representatives from Brussels.
The purpose of the high level meeting was to discuss the implementation of the EDF 11 under which EAC was allocated 85 million Euros for a period of 5 years. The resources were distributed as follows: peace and security - 15 million Euros, regional integration - 45 million Euros, natural resources management - 20 million Euros, and institutional strengthening - 5 million Euros.
EAC reported that out of the allocated 85 million Euros, projects worth 70 million Euros have reached advanced stages. A project on regional electoral support worth 5 million Euros is under implementation, a project on establishing a Trade Related Facility for 35 million has been finalized which will allow Partner States access to funds for trade facilitation.
A project on water resources management worth 10 million Euros led by Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and KfW is at formulation stage. The project focuses on Lake Victoria Basin with plans for construction of water and sanitation infrastructure along major towns in the basin.
EAC is also preparing to submit a project on promotion of aquaculture led by Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO) worth 20 million Euros as well as projects in a peace and security and institutional strengthening.
During the meeting EAC was applauded for having passed the key EU pillars assessment. EAC will now discuss implementation modalities with EU which will mean the Community using its own procedures. The meeting was also informed of the entry of the Republic of South Sudan into the EAC.
In his remarks, Amb. Mfumukeko urged the EU to consider priorities such as enhancing food security, income generation for employment to improve livelihoods.
During the meeting, the EU underlined the need to find sustainable financing solutions for donor-funded staff positions. The EU also announced a creation of a technical facility of 14 million Euros to support capacity building of project preparation on soft infrastructure projects.
Under EDF 11, the EU has allocated 600 million Euros for the five Regional Economic Communities (RECs). All the RECs have up to the end of December 2016 to finalize on the identification of priority projects.
The Secretary General was accompanied at the meeting by Hon. Jessica Eriyo , the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration who also led the EAC delegation during Technical meetings.
Speaker of EALA, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega yesterday challenged residents of Obongi County, Moyo District in Northern Uganda to take advantage of the integration process and tap in to available opportunities. Addressing residents at the Obongi Day Festivities 2016 at the Obongi Primary School grounds, the Speaker said the evolution of the Common Market agenda would be meaningful for so long as EAC citizens embraced the transformation agenda.
“The transformation agenda must start from oneself,” he said. We must change our individual mindsets initially, if we are to fully embrace and appreciate integration”, he added.
The Speaker who was the chief guest at the occasion anchored on the theme: Connecting Obongi to Arusha through Good Roads, Rail and Internet connections, called on the Obongi inhabitants to enhance productivity by trading in their commodities as a way of fully engaging in the free market.
He informed participants that the EAC was committed to enhancing inter-connectivity by improving infrastructure.
“The EAC road and rail network as well as enhancement in ICTs will play a key role in opening up the region”, the EALA Speaker said.
“It is important for authorities in Obongi to see how to open up the hinterland to the main region would benefit from the inter-connectivity of infrastructure”, he added.
Rt. Hon Kidega hailed the Government for ensuring peace and stability in Northern Uganda and said it was a pre-requisite for development.
The Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament, Hon Winifred Kiiza, called for enhancement of infrastructure and said all regions, devoid of their affiliations, were deserving. “All citizens of Uganda pay taxes and Government of the day must ensure the services are equally distributed”, Hon Kiiza said.
The Minister for Information Communication Technology, Hon Richard Tumwebaze said Government would expand and improve infrastructure for mobile telephony. He said Government would honour the pledges of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on enhancing infrastructure in the area.
He remarked that NRM Government would ensure equal services are rendered to all citizens.
The Minister of State for East African Community Affairs, Hon Julius Wandera Maganda said the location of Moyo district and the West Nile generally was strategic and it would open up the entire region. He pledged to ensure the Ministry for EAC Affairs undertakes sensitization in the area.
The Party Leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Major Gen Mugisha Muntu urged the EAC region to ensure peace and security prevails.
“Conflict is costly. We have all seen what is happening in the neighbouring countries of South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is important for us to build strong institutions and adhere to the fully commiting to democracy”, he said. On his part, the Deputy Secretary General of NRM, Richard Todwong rallied the region to stay united so as to ensure progress is realized.
The Member of Parliament of Obongi County and host, Hon Kaps Fungaroo, Hassan said the region needed better infrastructure and appealed to Government to provide the essential services to the people. He challenged Government authorities to rehabilitate and upgrade the Lomuunga Airstrip to enable the aviation industry to link the County to other parts of the country and the region. The legislator also called for faster internet connectivity to the region and installation of electricity for faster development.
A number of activities were held during that climaxed in the celebrations. The activities included key workshops, sporting activities and cultural events.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will continue working closely with the East African Community (EAC) to address issues of migration within East Africa.
IOM’s Regional Director for East and the Horn of Africa, Mr. Jeffrey Labovitz, said that the collapse of commodity prices on the world market and inflation had badly affected economies in East Africa and neighbouring countries, adding that this coupled with ongoing conflict would necessitate migration within the region.
Mr. Labovitz said poorly performing economies would mean people having problems in accessing farming implements and inputs which in turn contribute to low agricultural yields.
Mr. Labovitz noted that EAC Partner States had been quite generous and humane in hosting refugees from neighbouring countries riven with conflict. The IOM official singled out the Ugandan model of refugee management whereby refugees are integrated into local communities and given land to farm rather than being put into refugee camps.
He said the United Republic of Tanzania, which hosts many refugees, was keen on learning from Uganda on how to handle refugees and urged other African countries to follow suit.
Mr. Labovitz was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
In response, Amb. Mfumukeko thanked IOM for its close cooperation with the EAC on matters of migration and refugees, adding that refugees need food, medical assistance and educational facilities for their children.
The Secretary General said that the Ugandan model of integrating refugees into host communities was good because it enabled refugees to stabilize and continue with their lives as they wait for normalcy to return to their countries of origin.
Some of the critical migration challenges facing the EAC include: the free movement of persons and labour; internally displaced persons, and; forced migration. The EAC has been working with IOM to address the free movement of persons and labour and in the collection of migration data.
During the function, Mr. Labovitz was accompanied by the IOM Chief of Mission in Tanzania, Dr. Qasim Sufi and the Head of Programmes at IOM Tanzania, Ms. Tamara Keating. Amb. Mfumukeko was flanked by the Director of Social Sectors, Ms. Mary Makoffu, and the Labour and Employment Officer, Mr. Stephen Niyonzima.
The 5th EAC University students’ debate, themed “Youth Participation in Electoral Democracy”, has concluded at the prestigious Kigali Independent University (ULK), with the appointment of the new EAC Youth Ambassadors for next one year.
Addressing the students and guests at a colourful gala dinner and award ceremony, the Founder and President of Kigali Independent University, Prof. Dr. Rwigamba Balinda, reiterated that debates train students in critical thinking and creativity which are important for their success in the digital age as well as in knowledge acquisition and development.
Prof. Dr. Balinda said that debating enhances an individual’s communication skills and encourages research, adding that it also inculcates the culture of agreeing to disagree in addition to promoting tolerance and peaceful co-existence in the society.
“At national, regional and global levels, debating/communication skills are essential in negotiations and dialogues,” said the scholar.
The ULK President challenged the youth to play an active role in promoting the EAC integration agenda by mobilizing, sensitizing and advocating for fellow students and youth through the EAC Youth Ambassadors’ Platform.
“Our commitment and assurance as educators/higher learning institutions is that we shall continue providing you with a conducive environment, guidance and support to make your requisite contribution. We in Rwanda have established debating clubs in universities, secondary schools and held national inter-university and secondary school students’ debates on regional integration annually,” said Prof. Balinda.
Speaking during the same occasion, the EAC Deputy Secretary General (DSG) in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge, said one of the cardinal objectives of the EAC University students’ debate is “building a critical mass of youths as drivers of the integration process” and to spread the gospel of integration among peers and build strong relationships and networks that will solidify the integration process.
The DSG urged Ministries responsible for EAC Affairs in the Partner States and political leaders to support the work of the EAC Youth Ambassadors, who have been selected this year, to effectively promote and implement their integration programmes.
These include but are not limited to mobilization, sensitization and information sharing with their peers,” said Mr. Njoroge.
He said the 5th Debate was a transition that marks the end of term for the EAC Youth Ambassadors for 2015/2016, but also ushers in the beginning of a new term for the new EAC Ambassadors for 2016/2017.
He urged the new and outgoing Ambassadors to continue being proactive and advocating for the EAC integration in whatever they do so as to sustain their slogan; “EAC Youth – We move it.”
At the end of the debate, Mr. Patrick Ssemwogerere, from the Uganda Christian University in Mukono, Uganda emerged the Best Male Debater, while the Best Female Debater was Ms. Munduru Lucy Mega, from the International University of East Africa in Kampala, Uganda.
The Best Debating Team was the Alternative Strategy Team that comprised Patrick Ssemwogerere from Uganda Christian University, Iribagiza Rose Kelly from National University of Rwanda’s College of Business and Economics, David Ndika from University of Dar es Salaam, and Muthuri Brian Kithinji from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.
The newly appointed EAC Youth Ambassadors and their Deputies for the period 2016/2017 are as follows:
Rwanda: Ms. Iribagiza Rose Kelly from the National University of Rwanda (Ambassador) and her Deputy is Ms. Yves Rene Uwayo also from the National University of Rwanda
United Republic of Tanzania: Yohana Mayenga from the University of Dar es salaam (Ambassador) and his Deputy is Ms. Suzane W Mollel from Makumira University in Arusha, Tanzania
Kenya: Ms. Yvonne Anna Gathoni Muriithi Muthuri from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi (Ambassador) and her Deputy is Muthuri Brian Kithinji from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Uganda: Muhumuza Umar from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Ambassador) and his Deputy is Ms. Naluyima Agwang Samantha from Makerere University in Kampala
University Students Debaters from the Republic of Burundi were expected but did not show up. The Republic of South Sudan that has just joined the Community is expected to participate in the 6th edition of the Students’ Debate.
The Secretariat organized a two-days Training of Trainer’s and an induction workshop for the newly appointed EAC Youth Ambassadors on EAC integration, structures and processes that took place from 2nd to 3rd November 2016, at the Kigali Independent University.
The five (5) newly appointed Commissioners of the East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA) have been sworn in at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The appointed Commissioners were approved by the 33rd Meeting of the Council of Ministers held on 29th February 2016, which considered nominees submitted by each Partner State and appointed them as Commissioners of the EACCA. Furthermore, the 34th Meeting of the Council of Ministers held on 5th September, 2016, approved the Commissioners’ terms and conditions of service as provided by Section 38(6) of the EAC Competition Act, 2006.
The five Commissioners of the Authority include Mr. Innocent Habarugira (Burundi), Mr. Francis W. Kariuki (Kenya), Dr. Frederick Ringo (Tanzania), Dr. Didas M. Kayihura (Rwanda) and Mr. Sam K. Watasa (Uganda).
Presiding over the function on behalf of the EAC Secretary General, the Registrar of the East African Court of Justice His Worship Yufnalis Okubo, welcomed and congratulated the commissioners upon their appointment as the first Commissioners to serve the EAC Competition Authority.
“The onset of the EAC Common Market, coupled with our engagement in the globalized world implies that a higher percentage of competition cases have a significant regional and international ramification. The foregoing calls for the establishment of the EAC Competition Authority to regulate regional competition matters,” said the Registrar.
He urged Partner States to benchmark on international best practices in the enforcement of the EAC Competition Act 2006.
The EAC Competition Act, 2006, among other things, seeks to allow consumers to take class action against goods or services providers. It also seeks to seal loopholes that enable trade associations and firms operating across the region to engage in exclusive agreements, or form cartels, forcing consumers to pay higher prices for goods and services.
The Authority is an independent organ of EAC but subject to judicial review by the EACJ (as provided for in Sections 44 and 46 of the EAC Competition Act, 2006. It is mandated to develop appropriate procedures for public sensitization, consultation and participation.
Competition advocacy will entail providing information to citizens and businesses on competition whereas consultation will involve asking stakeholders for comments and advice regarding the Authority’s enforcement practice and on matters it intends to regulate.
In relation to participation, the Authority is expected to provide Partner States’ governments with comments and advice relating to the compatibility of Partner States’ regulatory activities with requirements of the Act. The Authority is also obligated to publish an annual report as well as occasional reports.
The enforcement of the EAC Competition Act, 2006 will trigger obligations for enterprises operating in various sectors as well as for Partner States. In particular, it is necessary for the Authority to evaluate what mechanisms will be used to implement the EAC Competition Act in a context where only two Partner States have operational national competition authorities, two Partner States are at advanced stages of establishing national competition authorities and one Partner State is in the process of enacting a competition law.
Given the confidential and sensitive nature of the matters to be handled by the Ad Hoc Competition Authority, the Commissioners took an Oath of Secrecy and an Oath of Allegiance before they embarked on discharging their services to the Community.
The Commissioners pledged their commitment to the Community by signing the Oaths of Allegiance and Secrecy, a formality and requirement delivered and witnessed by the EACJ Registrar; His Lordship Yufnalis Okubo, assisted by the Counsel to the Comminity; Dr. Anthony Kafumbe, Principal Human Resource Officer, Ms. Ruth Simba, among other staff from the EAC Secretariat.
During their three-day inaugural meeting, the Commissioners considered the Authority’s draft internal rules of procedure which spell out how it will conduct its business, developed a work plan and EAC merger review issues.
