The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, has instituted stringent expenditure reforms in the East African Community Organs and Institutions with immediate effect.
Amb. Mfumukeko, who took over the mantle from Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera as the Chief Executive of the regional organization on 26th April, 2016, noted that the EAC Organs and Institutions had been experiencing liquidity challenges as a result of delays in disbursement of contributions by both the Partner States and Development Partners.
Article 67 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC says that the Secretary General shall be the Accounting Officer of the Community.
In a Financial Management Circular dated 18th May, 2016, aimed at addressing the financial crunch at the Community, Amb. Mfumukeko says the EAC management has introduced cost cutting measures and reforms on the key expenditure items to be implemented immediately in all the Organs and Institutions of the Community.
The Secretary General said the measures and reforms are a product of intense consultations he has had with Executive Staff, Heads of Institutions, Directors, Professional and General Staff of the Community over the past few weeks.
Some of the measures include the following:
Technical Meetings Involving Delegates from Partner States and EAC Staff
The duration of meetings shall be rationalised. Technical meetings shall be conducted for a period not exceeding Four (4) working days. The number of delegates from Partner States facilitated through the EAC Budget shall not exceed two (2) from each Partner State; for each meeting, correspondence shall be sent to Partner States indicating that delegates should be nominated from relevant sectors who can actively contribute to the success of the meetings and that they consult widely with relevant stakeholders in Partner States prior to coming to meetings.
In order to reduce conference costs:
(i) Where possible, the use of free of charge Government-owned facilities should be encouraged;
(ii) The Procurement Unit shall negotiate for corporate conference and accommodation rates in each Partner State.
The EAC delegations to technical meetings shall not be more than three (3) Members of Staff.
Preparation for and facilitation of Policy (Council and Sectoral Council) meetings held outside duty station:
(i) There shall be preparatory meetings involving all staff with agenda items at the Headquarters, to review background papers and brief the EAC representatives to the said meetings;
(ii) Participation in Policy meetings: Directors and Technical Officers shall facilitate the session of Senior Officials only, while Directors, Heads of Institutions and Executives, shall participate in the Coordination Committee (Permanent/Principal Secretaries session) and Ministers/Cabinet Secretary session. The team facilitating the rapporteur is required throughout the duration of the meeting.
For Meetings involving Partner States’ delegates and staff held out of station, but within a radius of less than 150km of two (2) hour's drive from the duty station, the travel days for the staff shall be the actual first and last days of the meeting.
Meeting involving EAC Staff only or with Consultants
Meetings involving staff members only or with consultants, shall be held at EAC premises using conference halls/meeting rooms within the duty station.
Where an assignment/activity/training/retreat require more concentration, justification shall be provided to support taking the staff members outside the duty station. This decision shall be taken by the Secretary General or the officers with sub-delegated authority of the accounting officer i.e. the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, the Clerk of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), the Registrar of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and Heads of Institutions.
Enhancing Staff Presence at Duty Station
Members of staff will only be allowed to be away from their respective duty station(s) for not more than 50% of their time. Exceptions shall be considered on individual basis provided that the cumulative number of days for a particular month does not exceed 65% of the time. These ceilings exclude days for participation in EALA and EACJ sittings.
Travel Clearance by the respective Director and DSG, or equivalent authorities in other Organs and Institutions, prior to travelling, is mandatory.
Consultancy Expenses
Prior to budgeting procurement of consultancies, which are not implementing a particular Council directive, a request shall be submitted to Management and considered by a Multi-disciplinary Advisory Committee. This is to save expenditure on short-term studies, trainings, which can be undertaken or facilitated by the EAC Professional Staff.
Video Conferencing
At least 25% of EAC meetings shall use video conferencing facility. EAC shall invest in improving video-conference facility, both at Secretariat and Partner States level, to accommodate as many meetings as possible, at the same time.
Air Tickets
As meetings are well planned on the EAC Calendar of Activities, Meeting Forms indicating the budget line to be charged shall be issued one month in advance and tickets two weeks prior to the date of the meeting, to avoid high costs that may arise from late bookings.
All air tickets shall be booked and issued based on the most direct route.
Per Diem Rates Applicable under Development Partners' Support to EAC
The Partnership Fund MoU between EAC and Development Partners shall be amended to reflect the application of Travel Policy as contained in the PRAG (EU Per diem Rates), with effect from 1st July, 2016.
During the negotiation of financing agreements with Development Partners, EAC shall be flexible to apply Development Partners’ Travel Policies with a view to attracting more support. Thus there will be No Top Up claim by a staff when implementing an activity funded by Development Partners under these terms.
A Projects Coordination Unit will be established by 1st of July, 2016 to enhance effective communication and reporting to Partner States, EALA and Development Partners. This will also ensure that EAC has a one stop desk and repository for information on all projects. The unit will ensure joint planning and budgeting, timely and coordinated implementation, reporting and auditing of projects.
Dormant Projects Supported by Development Partners
The following shall apply in order to avoid EAC incurring recurrent costs on behalf of Development Partners:
a) The contract of Project Staff will be tied to the life of the specific project except where the project runs for more than five years, the contract of the staff shall be broken into five years and renewable once;
b) In the event a Development Partner withdraws support to a running project, the contracts of the staff under this project shall be terminated, and;
c) Where a project faces delayed disbursements for more than three (3) months without communication for the delay or commitment on further disbursement from the Development Partner, the contracts for staff under this project shall be terminated.
All Staff of EAC Organs and Institutions are under the obligation to enforce the implementation of these new measures.
In a memorable occasion for the East African Legislative Assembly, founding First Ladies of the EAC late yesterday delivered motivating addresses at a Special Sitting held in Arusha.
Looking graceful yet resplendent, Kenya’s Mama Ngina Kenyatta and Uganda’s Mama Miria Obote brought back the good old memories of the first EAC and challenged EALA Members to ensure the future of integration is both guaranteed and realised. The United Republic of Tanzania’s Mama Maria Nyerere sent her apologies. Her family was however represented at the occasion of the Special Sitting by Hon. Makongoro Nyerere, who is an elected Member of EALA.
First to take the podium was Mama Miria Obote who was emphatic that the EAC must re-energise itself and strive to be a fully functioning integration bloc. The former First Lady called for prioritisation of economic investment projects including oil refineries, the Standard Gauge Railway, agricultural research, food security and climate change.
The founding First Lady called for creation of employment opportunities especially for the youth in the region.
“This can be achieved through joint or common East African Community investments such as the ongoing projects between Uganda and Tanzania for the proposed pipeline, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya for the Standard Gauge Railway; Kenya, Ethiopia and the new South Sudan for the Lamu Port. The clear call should be an intensification of efforts across various fields to make our region more integrated”, H.E. Mama Obote said.
She further called for the region to move faster to have an integrated syllabus and curriculum to stabilise the labour market within the EAC.
“For instance, a majority of Ugandans have never learnt proper Swahili. We are now learning proper Swahili in schools and in the public engagement. This is the best way towards integration”, Mama Obote said.
Mama Miria Obote was full of praise for the EALA for recognising the contribution of the founding families.
“We are very grateful for EAC and EALA for recognising the contribution of our founding Fathers, Comrade Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Comrade Dr. Apolo Milton Obote and we are also thankful to the Almighty God for having kept us alive as former First Ladies of the Independent East African Community, Mama Miria Nyerere, Mama Ngina Kenyatta and I”, Mama Obote said.
She further appreciated the Governments of the United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya and their people who as the original Members of the East African Community, understood the social-political challenges of Uganda.
“They welcomed, sheltered and catered for our people as political refugees. This spirit of togetherness was extended to Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the new South Sudan. Not only for receiving and hosting refugees but also for walking the extra mile and facilitating peace talks, for example”, H.E. Mama Obote said.
Mama Ngina Kenyatta informed the Sitting that EAC’s founding fathers had “walked and worked tirelessly” in anticipation of unity of the region.
“In 1967, all three of us were witness to the establishment of a Community that spoke to that shared sentiment. The East African Community was built on the understanding that our nations and our peoples were stronger together. I request you to keep the hope of the founding fathers alive and to ensure that unity in the region is achieved”, Mama Ngina said.
“It is a credit to your hard work and persistence—and the hard work and persistence of your respective Governments—that today, that Community is more vibrant and active than ever”, the former First Lady added.
The first lady informed the August House that the region was on the verge of realising the dream of integration. She challenged EALA and the current EAC to strive to ensure disunity and mistrust was removed in a bid to strengthen integration.
Hon Miria Obote was accompanied by her son, Hon. James Akena while H.E. Mama Ngina Kenyatta’s entourage consisted of her family members including Mrs Wambui, Kristina Pratt, Selina Renee Pratt, Members of the Parliament of Kenya, women leaders from Central Kenya and representatives of the Mount Kenya University.
Welcoming the founding First ladies of Independence, Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Daniel Fred Kidega, lauded them for their contribution to the integration process.
“We are happy that you still show leadership in your own rights and continue to be involved in numerous humanitarian causes throughout the EAC region much akin to your active and prolific years when you worked for political and social justice and advocated for a wide range of human rights issues”, the Speaker said.
“Today, we celebrate you. You are walking encyclopedias in your own rights and repositories of information, who despite ageing gracefully, still credit, follow developments of this great region, and are supportive of the EAC unto this day. Late last year for example, Mama Ngina Kenyatta met with the EALA Kenya Chapter in Gatundu, Kenya, while in August 2014, a group of EALA Women Members paid a courtesy call on Mama Maria Nyerere in Dar Es Salaam. Mama Obote on her part, is still involved in the political spheres in Uganda and continues to follow developments at the EAC closely from Uganda House in Kampala”, the Speaker added.
The Speaker remarked that the integration process was on course and that it was stronger.
“Indeed, in retrospect, the collapse of the Community in 1977 was a sad and catastrophic affair, a great loss in opportunities and setback for the region. But today, I stand here convinced that the steps we have taken as a Community since its re-establishment are fundamentally underpinned on the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC and we are on course for full integration of the region”.
The Assembly at its Sitting 5th Meeting of the 4th Session on March 16th, 2016, passed a Resolution recognising the role you all continue to play in galvanising East Africa in the integration process and in the service of East Africans as “informal Institutional Memory”. The Resolution was moved by Hon. Mumbi Ngaru.
The EAC today presented Budget estimates for the Financial Year 2016/2017 totaling $101,374,589 to the East African Legislative Assembly sitting in Arusha. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation, Hon Dr Susan Kolimba presented the Budget speech to an attentive House on behalf of the substantive Minister and Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers, Hon Dr. Augustine Mahiga.
The 2016/2017 Budget is a drop down from US$110,660,098 Million presented to the House in the previous Financial Year. The Budget prioritizes the full implementation of the EAC Single Customs Territory, enhanced implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol especially additional commitments and interconnectivity of border immigration systems and procedures across Partner States and enhancement of productivity and value addition in key productive sectors.
The budget also takes cognisance of development of cross-border infrastructure and harmonisation of laws, policies and standards in respective sub-sectors, implementation of a liberalised EAC airspace, enhanced implementation a One Area Network in telecommunications and the implementation of EAC Peace and Security initiatives.
According to the Minister, other key specific priorities are strengthening of the legal and judicial systems, enhancement of Information, Communication and Education to promote popular participation of the citizenry in the EAC integration process and promotion of education, science and technology for creative and productive human resources.
The Chair of Council termed the establishment of a policy framework and institutional structures for establishment of the EAC Political Federation as another key priority area in the coming financial year.
The Budget is allocated to the Organs and Institutions of the EAC as follows; East African Community Secretariat (US$57, 872, 785), East African Legislative Assembly (US$16,034,324) and the East African Court of Justice (US$4,286,477).
The Inter-University Council for East Africa shall receive (US$4,553,890), Lake Victoria Basin Commission (US$11,214,708) while US$ 2,131,422 is earmarked for the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization. On their part, the East African Science and Technology Commission shall receive (US$ 1,161,438), East African Kiswahili Commission (US$ 1,134,542) and the East African Health Research Commission (US$ 1,397,438). The East African Competition Authority is to benefit from US$587,565 in the Financial Year.
The 2016/2017 Budget is to be financed by Partner State contributions (US$47,565,377) compared to US$ 47 566,973 in the current Financial Year; Development Partners support (US$46,717,601) which is a significant drop from US$ 58,555,635 of the previous year. The Member Universities will inject US$ 431, 923, General Reserves US$ 6,354, 248 and miscellaneous revenue US$ 305,440.
The EAC Political Federation is yet a key priority area on the agenda in the coming Financial Year as the mode of the regional Constitution making process commences. The same applies to strengthening of regional and international relations through mobilisation of Partner States’ diplomatic missions and the East African diaspora for effective participation in EAC integration processes and building of multilateral/international networks in pursuit of EAC objectives.
The Minister highlighted a number of achievements registered in the Financial Year 2015/2016, notably, the upscaling of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) through finalisation of operational instruments of the business manuals, deployment of SCT Monitoring and Evaluation tools and deployment of staff in some Partner States. The Minister remarked that 10 out of the 15 One Stop Border Posts were already operational.
The chair of the Council of Ministers further stated that the EAC Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Bill (NTB), 2015 passed by EALA was undergoing assent and would spur business and enhance the free movement aspects. The Minister told the House that National Monitoring Committees on NTBs and the EAC Regional Forum on NTBs had continued to spearhead the elimination of NTBs affecting Intra-EAC trade.
According to the Minister, the Council of Ministers further appointed Commissioners to the EAC Competition Authority. “The Authority is set to commence operations in the financial year 2016/17 and it will act as a one stop centre in the enforcement of provisions of the EAC Competition Act. The Secretariat has finalized preparations for the operationalization of the East African Competition Authority”, the Minister said.
In order to strengthen the Monetary Union, the Minister said draft Bills for the establishment of the East African Monetary Institute and the East African Statistics Bureau were been developed and negotiated by the Partner States. The Minister informed the House that in a bid to harmonise tax regimes, the EAC Secretariat had continued with efforts for closed co-ordination of fiscal policies with focus on critical areas for harmonisation.
“So far, domestic Tax Harmonization Policy has been drafted by the Secretariat and is being peer reviewed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before submission to the relevant Organs of the Community for consideration” the Minister said.
Under Infrastructure development, the Minister informed the House of on-going construction works especially on the Northern Corridor. The Minister said the Arusha-Holili/Taveta-Voi road project and the second multinational road projects in the region had commenced.
“In addition, the Secretariat signed a grant agreement amounting to US$ 2.68 million in November 2014 with the AfDB through the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) for the feasibility studies and detailed designs of two key links for the Republics of Rwanda and Burundi to the Central Corridor. These are the 250km long Nyakanazi – Kasulu – Manyovu road in Tanzania linking to the 78km long Rumonge –Bujumbura road in Burundi, and the 92km long Lusahunga – Rusumo road in Tanzania linking to the 70km long Kayonza – Kigali road in Rwanda”, the Minister said.
Hon Dr Kolimba further remarked that progress with regards to the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge railway stood at approximately 70% as at March 2016.
On Industrialisation and SMEs Development, the Chair of Council said that the EAC had developed a draft Industrialisation Bill and that it was awaiting legal scrubbing and input before it is presented to the Sectoral Council on Legal and Judicial Affairs for consideration.
Within the Energy Sector, the Minister informed an attentive House that implementation of power projects under the East African Power Master Plan had resulted in the addition of 425 MW over the last two years raising the region’s installed capacity from 4,468 MW to 4,893 MW against a peak demand for 3,326 MW for the inter-connected system last year.
In the Tourism and wildlife sector, the Minister informed the House that a regional strategy to combat poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife projects was been developed by the Secretariat.
“In the next financial year, 2016/17 the priorities for the Tourism and Wildlife sector will include, among others, developing guidelines for smooth cross border tour operations, implementation of the regional strategy to combat poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, finalizing the development of a tourism legal framework, training of more hotel assessors from Partner States and transferring training program of hotel assessors to training colleges in hospitality in Partner States”, the Minister remarked.
On health matters, the Minister informed the House of progress in promotion of integration of health sector and interventions to address challenges facing the sector in line with Article 118 of the Treaty.
“Mr. Speaker, in order to strengthen human resource for health and ensure right skills and knowledge is provided by the various public and private sector universities and other institutions of higher learning in the fields of medicine, medical laboratory sciences, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and other health professions, regular joint inspections have been conducted by EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the EAC Partner States’ National Health Professional Boards and Council using regional guidelines and checklists developed for the inspection and mutual reciprocal recognition”, the Minister said.
On the Common Market, the Chair of Council remarked that the region was keen to ensure implementation of the Protocol. “Mr. Speaker, this August House may be pleased to note that during the 17th Ordinary Sitting of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, the new International East African Electronic Passport was launched. The East African e-Passport represents; the ordinary; official/service and diplomatic Passports. The introduction of the new e-Passport is a milestone that will see our Partner States join global initiatives where over 100 countries are implementing the electronic passports”, the Minister said.
“The Partner States are expected to issue the new international EA e- passport in to their citizens in January 2017 and make necessary arrangements with relevant authorities to implement the passport”, he added.
The Minister remarked that consultations with stakeholders in the employment subsector such as the East African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC) and Employers’ Associations have been undertaken on the process of harmonization of the work/residence permit fees pursuant to Regulation 6(9) of the East African Common Market (Free Movement of Workers) Regulations Annex II and regulation 6(5) of the East African Community Common Market (Right of Residence) Regulations.
On matters of political affairs, the Minister informed the House of steps been taken to lay ground for political integration. The 31st Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers in May 2015, the Minister said, established a Sub-Committee of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs to consider the concept note, Terms of Reference (ToRs); Roadmap for the Constitution Making Process, and; to determine the Model of the EAC Political Federation for consideration. The Sub-Committee met in February 2016 and made a report to the Council on the basis of which the Council reported to the 17th Ordinary Meeting of the Summit. The report was to the effect that the Partner States had generated convergence on a Confederation as the Model of the East African Federation.
The Minister said that the Community was keen to ensure regional peace and security initiatives are realized. The sector players have a critical role in ensuring the facilitation of the enjoyment of freedoms and rights guaranteed by the Treaty. The sub-sector continued regular consultations towards joint action against Terrorism, Small arms and Light weapons trafficking, human and narcotics trafficking, theft of motor vehicles and other cross border crimes. To this extent a training manual and operating procedures on public order management with a human rights perspective at the 14th Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization – Annual General Meeting (EAPPCCO- AGM) was launched, the Minister informed the House.
“The next financial year will be dedicated to conclusion of another three harmonized Standing Operating Procedures remains an omnipresent threat to the enjoyment of these freedoms and rights. Attention will be paid to transnational crimes that feed terrorism and terror infrastructure”, he said.
In a bid to improve financial management and reporting, the Minister remarked that the Secretariat has rolled over the Sun systems to all EAC institutions which were prior to, using different financial management systems. The Budget Management System (BMS) which was developed and installed was as well rolled out to all EAC Institutions, making it easy to prepare Annual Operational Plans, MTEF budget and monitor its execution. As a result of these improvements, budgets and financial reports are timely, well prepared and submitted, the Minister said.
The Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), Prof. Alexandre Lyambabaje calls for universities to take a further step from publications to development of innovative products and policies.
Prof Alexandre was addressing a High Level Dialogue Meeting of Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Commissions/Councils for Higher Education and members of East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Network (EAQAN). The meeting was the culmination of the EAQAN Forum which kicked off on Monday 16th May, 2016, followed by EAQAN General Assembly on 18th May. Both events took place at the Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe, Uganda.
The meeting was also attended by participants from Ghana, Ivory Coast and Somalia to learn from East African countries on the development of quality assurance systems in universities.
Prof. Lyambabaje told the participants of the meeting that among the priority areas of the Inter-University Council for East Africa’s coordination is to promote and encourage research within higher learning institutions. He however, expressed that in some cases, it has been realized that some universities are prioritizing the end result of their work as publications which of course go with promotion of staff instead of innovation and products as end results.
He therefore urged universities to view publishing in a different aspect of moving from publications to development of innovative products and policies which will contribute to the development of socio-economic transformation in the East African region.
On the efforts being made in the development of quality assurance systems in East African universities, the Executive Secretary, emphasized the importance of communicating quality assurance matters in a user friendly language to enable its articulation and understanding by diverse stakeholders, among them being policy makers, administrators and ordinary people. He stressed that by making quality assurance issues in higher education understood by stakeholders, contributes into attracting more support and realization of the objectives of interventions which results in more funding from governments, partners and other stakeholders.
“We need also to assess how effectively the developed tools in quality assurance are used in our institutions” said Prof. Lyambabaje citing an example of the current trend where many parents in the East African region are sending their children to study in universities outside East Africa especially abroad. According to Prof. Lyambabaje, there must be a reason for parents doing so.
He therefore called for universities to create confidence in parents and develop higher learning institutions to enable retain students in East African universities. In addition to that Prof Lyambabaje sees the need for streamlining administration so that university teaching staff and professors feel valued and at the end being retained.
On preparation of pre-university students Prof. Lyambabaje compared secondary school leavers as industrial raw materials of universities who need proper preparation. Citing an example of industrial products which involves different processes of production from first stage to the last which is an end product, Prof. Lyambabaje urged the participants to look critically on how prepared are secondary school students which according to him are like raw materials for universities expecting to be processed to the end product which is the labor market.
Commenting on challenges facing public universities whose human resources are shifting to private universities, Prof. Lyambabaje suggested a dialogue between public and privates universities and working out strategies on how to share the best available human resources, since both public and private universities have the same goals of serving the Community.
The Executive Secretary assured the participants that IUCEA will continue setting aside some funds to support staff mobility in universities but he called for the universities and IUCEA to sit together and find out strategies for co-founding the staff mobility programme so that many universities benefit from that initiative.
Informing the participants on the progress made on the Eastern and Southern African Centers of Excellency (ACE II) project, which will serve as an incentive of students mobility within the region Prof. Lyambabaje revealed to the participants that, the World Bank has lend 140 million USD Dollars to Governments to establish Regional Centers of Excellency to the participating countries which are Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania Uganda Zimbabwe and Zambia. Among the 24 established Centers of Excellency 15 are in the East African Partner States of which each country will receive 6 million USD to establish one center.
On benchmarking of study programmes Prof. Lyambabaje told the participants that a number of benchmark of study programmes have been developed while others are underway. However the Executive Secretary observed the need to commit more funds to speed up and complete the process. He informed the participants that IUCEA is working out strategies which will make sure that more funds are committed to develop other programme benchmarks within the shortest time possible and be in use since the completion of that exercise will contribute to the realization of East African Common Higher Education Area.
On supporting of East African innovative ideas Prof. Lyambabaje revealed to the participants that IUCEA is holding its Annual Meeting under the theme “Research and Innovation towards Socio-Economic Transformation of East African Community” where key note presentations and experiences will be shared from Makerere University on Kiira Car Project, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology on Low Coast Water Filter and M-PESA on growing financial inclusion from Kenya which has proved to be the best tool in transferring money within the East African region and beyond. “How do we support such initiatives” asked Prof Lyambabaje.
In his remarks to the conference, Prof. Opuda-Asibo John, the Executive Director, National Council for Higher Education, Uganda, urged EAQAN to be more effective by going beyond from what it is doing currently and play the role of advising university senates and even present papers which can be discussed at senate levels. He urged QA Committees in universities to promote academic freedom and research and building staff capacity in quality assurance matters. Prof. Opuda observed the need for Senior Professors to support young university staff so that they grow in their fields.
Commending the work done in collaboration with IUCEA, Dr. Helmut Blumbach, the Germany Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Director, Regional Office for Africa, said that DAAD and IUCEA are in the process of signing the Memorandum of Understanding whose thematic areas for future collaboration will include: strengthening partnership and collaboration between industries and universities in curriculum development, training and applied research and internationalization of higher education. At the end of the meeting, Dr. Helmut Blumbach and Prof. Alexandre Lyambabaje signed that Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration in the next five years.
The Forum and Dialogue meeting were organized by IUCEA in collaboration with the National Council for Higher Education, (NCHE), Uganda, the Germany Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Germany Rectors’ Conference (HRK). EAQAN Network was established as an avenue to bring together quality assurance practitioners, top administrators of Higher Education Institutions, Executives members of national accreditation bodies, higher education researchers and policy makers to share ideas on quality assurance practices, challenges and prospects in the East African Higher Education Area.
The Assembly late yesterday debated and hailed the Chairperson of the EAC Summit of Heads of State for the concise exposition of the EAC policy contained in the State of the EAC Address delivered to EALA at the March Session.
At debate, Hon. Shyrose Bhanji termed the speech as enlightening and said it had laid ground on a number of important matters in the integration agenda. The Speech cited the implementation of the Customs Union as key but added that a number of agencies should be able to issue the certificate of origin so that accessibility is realised.
Hon. Abubakar Zein reiterated that it was necessary for the region to contain corruption and remove bad governance in order to realise progress of the EAC. Hon. Mike Sebalu termed disasters as a matter that the region must collectively address.
“There is no soveregnity when it comes to matters concerning disasters”, he said. Hon. Mumbi Ngaru on her part termed sensitisation as fundamental and said there was need for more adequate funding, a sentiment that was echoed by Hon. Bernard Mulengani and Hon. Frederic Ngenzebuhoro as well. On her part, Hon. Judith Pareno said that East Africans continued to face a number of challenges at the borders citing frequent stops by the authorities while Hon. Dora Byamukama called for closer working relations between the Private Sector under the East African Business Council and the Assembly.
The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Rt Hon. Majaliwa, Kassim Majaliwa delivered the State of EAC Address on behalf of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Chair of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, H.E. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, at the commencement of the 5th Meeting of the 4th Session of the 3rd Assembly in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on March 8th, 2016.
The Speech, gave a score-card on a number of areas related to the pillars of integration.
The Speech highlighted the adoption of the use of One Stop Business Posts (OSBPs) as a trade facilitation concept to minimise delays at the border posts and on the major corridors in the region. The House was informed that out of the 15 borders earmarked to operate as OSBPs, 7 had been completed and 4 others were operating as OSBPs using bilateral agreements.
The Prime Minister remarked that intra-EAC Trade was expected to register phenomenal increase in the next few years."Trade is now at 23%, over and above intra-African Trade figure of 12%. "There has been a 300% increase in the value of trade from 2 Billion USD in 2005 to 6 Billion USD in 2014," Rt. Hon Majaliwa told the House in March.
“These numbers coupled with the combined GDP of 110.3 Billion makes our region a formidable trading bloc", he added.The Chair of the EAC Heads of State Summit urged the region to push for total removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs). "We all admit that we have done well in eliminating tariff related barriers, we must resolve to do away with the remaining ones," the Chairperson of the EAC Summit of Heads of State added, citing the examples of removal of various roadblocks in the region.
On Infrastructure, it was stated that Partner States were actively engaged in the Standard Gauge Railway with Republic of Kenya having completed coverage of about 200 km out of 472 km of formation as of September last year.
On the Common Market, the EAC Chair of Summit gave an account of achievements realised in the Partner States to date. He remarked that Republic of Burundi now recognises the academic qualifications, experiences obtained, licenses and certifications obtained for the workers from other EAC Partner States.
The United Republic of Tanzania on its part, has issued a total of 3,222 simplified Certificates of Origin were issued as at June 2015 as compared to 2,355 certificates issued in 2014. In Kenya, the Prime Minister said development of an SMS based NTBs Reporting System to facilitate reporting and subsequent elimination of NTBs had been initiated.
The Republic of Rwanda, according to the Chair of the Summit, had eliminated all Non-Tariff Barriers and further harmonised demographic and social statistics for undertaking agricultural surveys and census. All the initiatives he added, were geared towards enhancing the Common Market Protocol. In Uganda, the value of goods from other Partner States accorded zero-tariff treatment grew by 9% while 360 EAC standards on traded goods had been adopted and were in application.
Yesterday, Hon. Martin Ngoga remarked that while the policy statements made were positive, there was a mismatch with the bureaucrats in the Partner States paying less attention to implementation of the policy statements.
Hon. Bernard Mulengani, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, Hon. Patricia Hajabakiga, Hon. Nancy Abisai and Hon. Valerie Nyirahabineza also rose in support of the motion. Others were Hon. Abdullah Mwinyi, Hon. Chris Opoka, Hon. Ussi Maryam, Hon. Mukasa Mbidde and Hon. Dr James Ndahiro.
The State of EAC Address is delivered annually to the EALA by the Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State. The State of EAC Address sets the momentum and impetus for the integration process by reflecting on general policies that relate to the Community's progress while outlining the strategic challenges which require attention.
The novelty of the State of EAC Address dates back to the year 2008 when H.E. President Yoweri Museveni made the first inaugural Address to EALA in Arusha.
The EAC Secretary General, Hon. Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, this afternoon took Oath of Allegiance as an Ex-Officio of the Assembly as the 6th Meeting of the 4th Session commenced in Arusha, Tanzania this afternoon.
Hon. Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko was sworn in by the Clerk to the Assembly in a brief ceremony witnessed by the Speaker and Members of EALA in line with the Rule 5 of the Rules and Procedures of the Assembly. The Rule 5(4) of the Rules of Procedure say in part that: “No Member can sit or participate in the proceedings of the House until the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the Treaty is taken”.
Rule 5(5) specifically states that “when a Member first attends to take his or her seat other than at the first sitting of a new House, he or she shall be brought to the table by two Members and presented by them to the Speaker who shall then administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance”.
Hon. Mfumukeko was ushered in to the House by EALA Members, Hon. Isabelle Ndahayo and Hon. Hafsa Mossi.
Hon. Amb. Mfumukeko was appointed during the February 2016 Summit of EAC Heads of State to replace Hon. Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera. Prior to the appointment as Secretary General, Hon. Mfumukeko was the Deputy Secretary General, Finance and Administration at the EAC.
Hon. Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko has over twenty one years’ work experience in both private and public sector. Prior to joining the EAC, Hon. Amb. Mfumukeko was the Director General of the Burundi Electricity and Water National Company between 2013 to 2015 and President of the Steering Committee of the East African Power Pool. He has served as a Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Burundi in charge of Economic Affairs (2012-2013) and as Director General of the Burundi Investment Promotion Authority (2009-2012).
Hon. Amb. Mfumukeko served as an Economic Expert at the United Nations - UNDP and FAO from 2006 to 2009 and also in various companies in the USA and France including Banque Populaire (France), EDF GDF - Electricite de France (France) and American Express, Mobil Oil, FUBU, Karl Kani (USA).
The Ambassador of Belgium to the United Republic of Tanzania, and also accredited to the EAC bloc, H.E. Paul Cartier , today paid a courtesy call to Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, the Secretary General of the East African Community.The Secretary General and his guest discussed among other things the possible areas of cooperation especially in the area of Education and Energy.
During their discussions Amb. Mfumukeko briefed the Belgium Envoy the proposed reforms at the EAC Secretariat geared towards cost cutting. The EAC Chief disclosed to H.E. Paul Cartier that he has been consulting with the key various EAC stakeholders on how to minimise costs at the Secretariat. Amb Mfumukeko pledged to make an official statement at the meeting with key Development Partners on the 7th of June, 2016 in Dar es Salaam.
In his part H.E. Paul Cartier congratulated Amb. Mfumukeko for his appointment and noted the impressive progress in the EAC integration process.
Commenting on the progress of the dialogue process for Burundi Peace Talks currently being held in Arusha, the Belgium Envoy hailed the Facilitator of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue former President of United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Benjamini Mkapa for being able to mobilise a large number of representative to attend the dialogue . At least 83 delegates have turned up representing various stakeholders in Burundi.
The Ambassador however expressed concerns about the negative publicity of the event in some of the media channels in the region. Both Secretary General and the Ambassador were in agreement with the clarion call by the Facilitator for renouncing the violence in Burundi.
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) holds its sitting in Arusha, Tanzania, next week. The Sixth Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Third Assembly takes place from Monday, May 23, 2016 to Friday, June 3, 2016.
The Assembly is to be presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega. Top on the agenda during the two week period is the EAC Budget Speech which is expected to be delivered on Thursday, May 26th, 2016, by the Chair of the Council of Ministers, Hon. Dr Augustine Mahiga. The Assembly is then expected to debate and approve the Budget as part of its mandate.
The Budget Speech is a key activity of the EAC calendar. Last year, EALA debated and approved EAC Budget estimates for the Financial Year 2015/2016 totaling to US$ 110, 660,098.
The 2015/2016 Budget prioritised on the operationalisation of the Single Customs Territory, enhanced implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol with particular focus on implementation of the new generation EAC internationalised e-Passports and development of the EAC trading, payments and settlements systems.
Also top on the agenda during the two week period is a Special Sitting to be addressed by the Partner States’ Independence former First Ladies, Their Excellences, Mama Ngina Kenyatta (Kenya), Mama Miria Obote (Uganda) and Mama Maria Nyerere (United Republic of Tanzania).
The Special Sitting on May 31st, 2016, presents a unique opportunity for the Members to interact and to share experiences with the distinguished former first ladies’ given that EAC as is constituted today, borrows a number of best practices from the first bloc.
Debate on the recent State of EAC Address, is also on the menu. On March 8th, 2016, The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Rt Hon Kassim Majaliwa delivered the State of EAC Address to EALA at the 5th Meeting of the 4th Session in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Prime Minister informed the House that progress had been realised following the entry of the Single Customs Territory. He remarked that finalization of key operational instruments, revision of business manuals, development of M&E tool framework, deployment of staff and revision of an enforcement framework had opened the path for the operationalisation of the SCT in the Partner States.
Two key Bills on the cards at the EALA meeting are the EAC Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Bill, 2015 and the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2016.
The object of PWD Bill, 2015 is to provide a comprehensive legal framework for the protection of the rights of persons with disability in the Community. The Bill is premised under the provisions of Article 120 (c) of the EAC Treaty under which, Partner States closely co-operate amongst themselves in the field of social welfare with respect to the development and adoption of a common approach towards disadvantaged and marginalized groups. Such groups include children, the youth, the elderly and persons with disability through rehabilitation and provision of among others, foster homes, healthcare, education and training.
The House is also expected to receive and to debate on a number of Committee reports. On the other side, its Committees shall hold consultative meetings with the EAC Council of Ministers. The Communications, Trade and Investments Committee has a date with the EAC Council of Ministers to review the EAC Sectional Properties Bill, 2016 and the EA Customs Management (Amendment Act) 2016.
On its part, the General Purpose Committee will consult with the Council on the Supplementary Budget Bill and the PWD Bill respectively, prior to tabling of both Bills in the House.
The Inter-Burundi Dialogue resumed today at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) in Arusha, Tanzania under the leadership of H.E. Benjamin Mkapa, the Facilitator of the process.
The Inter-Burundi Dialogue is being attended by various stakeholders including Former Heads of State, the National Commission for Inter-Burundi Dialogue (CNDI), all Political Parties registered in Burundi, Civil Society Organizations, Faith-based Groups, prominent Political Actors inside and outside Burundi, as well as Women and Youth groups.
The Dialogue is also being attended by representatives of the Diplomatic Community in Tanzania; UN Security Council; African Union, EAC Partner State Governments, and; the EAC Secretariat.
The 4-day Inter-Burundi Dialogue will include closed door consultation sessions between the Facilitator and the diverse stakeholders.
Opening the Dialogue, Former President of the United Republis of Tanzania, H.E. Benjamin Mkapa urged all the Parties to the conflict to renounce violence and seek a peaceful solution to the conflict.
“We are all aware that this is a Burundi problem and it can be solved only by the Barundi themselves. My role is only to facilitate the Barundi to dialogue and reach an amicable solution. My plan in this endeavour is to give ample time and space to all stakeholders to express their views on the way forward,” said the facilitator.
The Former President hailed the support to the process by United Nations, the African Union and the international community which support he added had ensured the smooth running of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue.
He urged all stakeholders to support the process so that Burundi returns to normalcy and peace.
He urged the people of Burundi to embrace a democratic culture as they have done over the past 10 years in addition to strengthening democracy in the country.
Speaking at the function, EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said it was the Community’s hope that the process would bring all Burundians to a common understanding that will result in peace, democracy and prosperity in the country.
In his remarks, Amb. Jamal Benomaar, representing UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, said that only a genuine and inclusive dialogue could enable Burundian stakeholders to find a way of the current crisis facing the country.
Amb. Benomaar reaffirmed the UN Security Council’s full support to the EAC-led mediation effort under the leadership of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Addressing the delegates, AU Representative Amb. Ibrahima Fall noted that Burundi had witnessed a cycle of peace and violence, adding that the dialogue was an opportunity for the country to put an end to the cycle.
Amb. Roeland Van de Geer, Head of the EU Delegation to Tanzania, on behalf of the Diplomatic Community in Tanzania, said peace in Burundi was important not just for the East African region but the world as a whole.
The Inter-Burundi Dialogue is scheduled to take place from 21st to 24th May 2016 at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).
The Media will be allowed only at the official opening and closing ceremonies. Journalists seeking to cover the event should email: a scanned copy of their press card; recent passport size photograph, and/or; copy of passport for accreditation purposes to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., CC: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Accreditation of Local and International Journalists intending to cover ONLY the official opening ceremony of the Dialogue on Saturday 21st May 2016, will commence on Friday 20th May 2016 at 14.00hrs in Room 541, 5th Floor, Kilimanjaro Wing of the Arusha International Conference Centre.
Kindly avail yourself in person with your valid Press Card and/or Passport (for non-Tanzanian nationals) to facilitate the accreditation process. Please present yourself physically even if you have emailed your particulars to the EAC Media Centre.
