East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: 6thOctober, 2018: EALA is adding its voice to the debate on greening the environment. The regional Assembly now wants Partner States to make tree seedlings available to various communities to embark on massive tree planting campaigns and to conserve forests as it promotes policies that make the Community green. Consequently, the Assembly is callingfor the retrieval of the EAC Forests Management and Protection Bill 2015 for its re-consideration, which it hopes to amend and have (the Bill) assented to by the EAC Heads of State within the shortest time possible.
Hon Mathias Kasamba, mover of the Resolution urging Council of Ministers to conserve forests, raised concerns that forest areas within the EAC were under threat of deforestation and forest degradation. The Member raised concern of the imminent disappearance of forest.
“There is concern that if these practices (deforestation) continue, the Community will lose approximately 12 million hectares of forest by 2030”, Hon Kasamba told an attentive House.
The Assembly was informed that in order for the Community to protect the many benefits from forests and to ensure livelihoods for the people that live in and around forests, the Community needs to adopt programmes on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) “plus” conservation and the sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks and adopt programmes aimed at halting or preventing the destruction of forests.
The resolution which was seconded by Hon Dr Woda Jeremiah Odok, calls for the promotion and use of alternative technologies that minimize tree cutting especially for firewood and home consumption purposes. At the same time, the Assembly recognises that the EAC Climate Change Policy provides for several strategies which include promotion of sustainable management of forests and wetlands in the region, promoting reforestation, afforestation and improvement of agricultural productivity.
Hon Kasamba called for more action in conservation matters saying EAC had already lost 6 Million hectares of forest cover.
According to Hon Kasamba, in Uganda, a government report has revealed that the country’s forest cover has dropped to 9%, representing a 3%drop in just two years since 2015. United Republic of Tanzaniawith land area 945,687sq km is home to one of the largest trees’ cover in the world, but it is similarly at risk. A forest inventory by the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) in 2015, found that forests and wooded areas cover over 48 million hectares of land. On its part, Hon Kasamba saidKenya had lost a large portion of its forest cover over the years; it gained a substantive portion in the 10 years to 2015. The country had 4,413,000 hectares of forest land that year as compared to 4,047,000 hectares in 2005 in a report attributed to the Food and Agricultural Organization. The legislator maintained that Rwanda is one of the only countries in the world that has a positive rate of afforestation. Every year, more trees are planted and protected in Rwanda than cut down. This is no easy feat considering Rwanda’s population density and the economic pressure on the small land size.
By the end of 1994, forests had been eliminated from 78 % of the country and were decreasing at rate of 7% per year, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the United Nations. The Government knew that without trees, the country could never fully rebuild itself, so it reversed this trend, planting millions each year. From 2015 to 2016, the Rwandan government planted 32 million seedlings, which is equivalent to the reforestation of 15,000 hectares. In 2017, Rwanda reached its target of 30% forest cover three years earlier than planned”, Hon Kasamba told the House.
With an estimated 33% forest cover in the country, South Sudan’s forests harbor globally significant biodiversity, provide a globally significant greenhouse gas sink, and provide numerous other goods and services to South Sudan’s growing population.However, South Sudan’s forests and their associated ecosystem goods and services are also under significant threat due to unsustainable activities such as illegal logging, unplanned and inefficient agricultural practices, and an unregulated charcoal industry, serving ever increasing demand in urban centers. In Burundi, the House was informed that deforestation is a major environmental concern in the country which is also the beginning of the problem of climate change.About 172000ha (6.7%) of the country constitute forests among which 33.3% (40,000ha) are classified as primary forests. According to FAO (2017) between 1990 and 2010 Burundi lost an average of 5850 hectares (2.02% of trees) per year. In total Burundi lost 117000 hectares (40.05%) of their forest over the course of twenty years, and the numbers are still drastically increasing.
Hon Kasamba remarked that it was necessary for the Bill to be brought back to the House if assent is withheld.
During debate, Hon Mohammed Mnyaa attributed unemployment as one of the many reasons fordeforestation. “Unemployed people continue to cut trees to make charcoal and to sell logs. I have been tasked before to provide employment by youth at a time I was advocating for them to halt deforestation”, he said. Hon Woda Odok said reforestation is key to mitigate climate change saying it helped also to reduce emissions of carbon. Hon Dr Odok congratulated Republic of Rwanda for its attempts to ensure forest preservation.
Hon Dr Oburu Oginga remarked that the region’s water towers were drying up due to the nature human conflict arising from many citizens grabbing land in forests and cutting trees. “This is a big problem given that some are acquiring title deeds and it thus becomes a challenge to recover when it becomes occupied as it tends to take a political angle,” the legislator said. Hon Dr Oginga said that Mau forest in Kenya was a source of many rivers including the Mau river- which he maintained, was on the verge of drying up. He further called for modalities of how the enacted legislation can become Acts should Partner States fail to assent to bill without reasons given.
Hon Susan Nakawuki urged Council of Ministers to ensure the Bill on forestry receives the due attention given the importance of the environment. She called for awareness creation on the impact of environmental degradation.The legislator further called on Members of the Community to consider the option of planting trees in addition to flowers. Hon Mary Mugyenyi said the Bill was too important and requested the mover of the resolution to retrieve the Bill that was not assented to and re-look at the issues.
Hon Francoise Umuwukiza called for preservation and purification of the environment for posterity. Forests are not only good in conserving water – but an attractive tourist and natural attraction
Others who supported the Motion were Hon Dr Ann Itto, Hon Gabriel Alaak,Hon George Odongo, Hon Jean Claude Barimuyabo, Hon Gideon Thoar, and Hon Kim Gai.
East Africa’s coastline is one of the most biologically diverse areas, offering a rich mosaic of coral reefs, mangroves, lowland forests and savanna woodlands and the Community is well endowed with forest resources which contribute significantly to carbon sequestration and support development of the Community.
In 2015, the Assembly passed the EAC Forests Management and Protection Bill, 2015 whose objective is to provide for the preservation, protection and sustainable use of forests.
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For more information, please contact:
Bobi Odiko Senior Public Relations Officer East African Legislative Assembly Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103 Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036 Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org Web: www.eala.org
About the East African Legislative Assembly: The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is put in effect by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: 6thOctober, 2018: Stakeholders keen to reduce the proliferation of Small and Light Weapons (SALW) now want EAC Partner States to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to mop out illegal arms. A seminar on Arms Trade Treaty and its Complementarity to the Regional Arms Control Instruments for Partner States organised by the EALA and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)took place in Arusha yesterday.
EALA Member, Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema, speaking on behalf of the Speaker, Rt Hon NgogaKaroli Martin, said it was vital for the region to seriously tackle the matter of illegal arms saying the security challenges were beyond inter-state issues but a concern for intrastate initiatives.
Hon Rwigema said insecurity played a role in hindering development, destabilizing leadership and resulted in poor economic development among others. The legislator added that violent crimes as well as arms trafficking, transnational criminality, which were may times related to presence of illegal arms would threaten the continent if not checked.
“In addition, with the EAC now implementing the Common Market Protocol that envisages free movement, there is imminent fear of increase in cross-border crime. Unfortunately, free movement of persons does not only involve those in search of opportunities, but it inevitably also involves free movement of criminals. This can be destabilizing and calls for closer co-operation by the agencies. Articles 123,124 and 125 of the EAC Treaty explicitly underscores security as a critical component in supporting; consolidating and protecting regional integration”, Hon Rwigema said.
The legislator remarked that the African continent was repositioning itself to be a significant player in global trade. He therefore called for all effort to be inculcated to ensure regional and continental peace and security. Hon Rwigema said it was necessary for all Partner States to ratify the Treaty. At the moment, all Partner States have signed the Treaty but none of them has ratified the same. The EAC Partner States are among the 38 countries that have signed but not ratified the Treaty according to the Head of the Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat, Mr Dumisani Dladla.
Dr Philip Mwanika, ICRC Focal Point in Charge of Multilateral Affairs and Humanitarian Diplomacy, remarked that the Assembly was a critical stakeholder in so far as reducing armed violence and conflict mitigation is concerned.We have particularly been made aware of the work of the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution towards conducting fact finding mission and advancing conflict transformative dialogue sessions with civil society and governments pertaining to some still protracted social contexts in the region”, Dr Mwanika said.
The ICRC, he said, was keen to continue in its mandate of supporting citizens in the armed conflict areas. Dr Mwanika lamented over the bulk of civilian suffering occasioned by presence of conventional weapons and cited the indiscriminate and direct attacks against civilians, hospitals and even humanitarian workers. The expert therefore called for responsible arms transfers and enforcement of rules and norms connected to international arms trading as a means to preventing the risks of weapons they provide from being used to commit, or facilitate serious violations of human rights.
Dr Mwanika said over the thirty-plus years of work in South Sudan and Somalia, the ICRC could attest to a slow-motion effect of conventional weaponry in displacement and more indirect suffering due to cumulative deterioration of basic services, life chances and livelihoods.
Dr Mwanika also informed the seminar of positive developments and dynamics citing conscious action towards armed violence reduction as a means to realizing peace and security. The multilateral expert enumerated the Nairobi Protocol, Kinshasa Convention, the EAPCCO Protocol and theMifugo Protocol as key resources in dealing with the scourge of small arms and light weapons.
The Head of the Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat, MrDumisani Dladla, said whereas importation and related issues of buy and sale of arms is a sovereign right of nations, states must work together to assess the risk of proposed transfers. He said that nations need to take measures to regulate arms imports where necessary and which may include looking at the import systems as well as requesting information from an exporting state regarding a pending or actual authorization of shipment.
The objectives of the seminar were to demystify certain provisions of the ATT which have raised concerns for Member States in the region, to provide a platform towards listening to perspectives of other states and regional organization on ratification of the ATT; to understand other similarities and differences between the Nairobi Protocol and the ATT (UNPOA) and to take a pragmatic approach to understand the ATT reporting obligations and identify ways to harmonise transparency obligations under the Nairobi Protocol.
According to the ICRC, more must be done to revert what can be a crisis of small arms in future.
"East Africa is one of the regions in the world that is gravely affected by small arms and light weapons and yet no single East African state is a party to the Arms Trade Treaty," said Eve Massingham, Regional Legal Advisor for the ICRC. "The failure of any East Africa state to ratify the treaty seems to be holding others back. The purpose of today's seminar is to bring representatives from the East African community together to speak collectively about the Arms Trade Treaty and what roadblocks they face to ratifying it", she added.
The ATT which entered in to force in Dec 2014 is part of the International response to the tremendous human suffering caused by the widespread and poorly regulated availability of conventional weapons in establishing for the first time a global norm for responsible arms transfers, the ATT represents a historic achievement.
Analysts contend that the ATT as contrasted with other control laws provides a blueprint for action to reduce human suffering by all States in the arms supply chains. By adopting the ATT, States have recognized that arms and ammunition can no longer be regarded as just another form of commercial goods. At the very core of the Treaty is the need to subject the transfer of conventional arms, their ammunition, and parts and components to strict criteria, with the aim of ensuring that weapons do not end up in the hands of those who would use them to commit serious violations of international human rights law or other serious crimes.
MrOluwafisanBankale,Representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said illicit rampant of SALW was rampant in the region due to a culture fueled by several conflicts including civil wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau. At the same time Tuareg rebellions in Niger and Mali and the terrorism activities in Mali and Nigeria had led to the leak of stock in to the hands of terrorists.
EALA Member, Hon George Odongo reiterated that the Treaty been specific to the Partner States means we need to interrogate the issues at the Partner States levels and EALA is capable of holding the conversation with the national parliamentary committees. The Assembly is interested in peace and security and the prevalence of arms hampersthe aspect.
“ATT looks at the demand and supply side and it is therefore vital to look at the entire trajectory including matters of stockpile management. EALA RACR wants to continue in the engagement with ICRC”, he said. “We are keen to look at the ratification issue and to aggregate the regional and international commitments,” Hon Odongo added.
Prior to the meeting, the ATT Head of Secretariat, Mr Dumisani Dladla and the ICRC Focal Point in charge of Multilateral Affairs & Humanitarian Diplomacy, Dr Philip Mwanika paid a courtesy call on Speaker of EALA, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin.
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For more information, please contact:
Bobi Odiko Senior Public Relations Officer East African Legislative Assembly Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103 Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036 Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org Web: www.eala.org
About the East African Legislative Assembly: The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is put in effect by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: 4th October, 2018: Debate on the much anticipated EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017, was deferred yesterday to allow for further consultation as the House rose. The Motion to postpone the debate on the crucial Bill was moved by Minister for EAC, Burundi, Hon Isabelle Ndahayo on behalf of the Council of Ministers and supported by legislators.
The Hon Minister informed the House that, the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017, which was a Council Bill needed time for more consultation before debate can ensue. Particularly, the United Republic of Tanzania had vide a letter to the Clerk of EALA on October 1st, 2018, requested for reinstatement of the earlier provision of clause 7(2) of the said bill, in effect, rejecting the amendment proposed by the EALA Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment (CTI) submitted to the Council of Ministers on September 24th, 2018.
Those who rose in support of the adjournment of the debate were Hon Fatuma Ibrahim, Hon Rose Akol, Hon Mary Mugyenyi, Hon Abdikadir Aden, Hon Fatuma Ndangiza, Hon Dr OburuOginga, Hon Noor Aden, Hon Dr Woda Jeremiah and Hon George Odongo. Others wereHon Dr OburuOginga, Hon Kennedy Mukulia, Hon Mathias Kasamba and Hon Dennis Namara, Hon Paul Musamalihowever opposed the Motion for Adjournment of debate on the Bill.
The debate on adjournment was preceded by presentation of the Report of the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment (CTI) on the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill by the Chair of the Committee, Hon Gai Deng.
The EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017,seeks to establish the Statistics Bureau as an Institution of the Community under Article 9 of the Treaty and Article 21 of the Protocol on Establishment of the EAC Monetary Union. The Bill provides for the functions, powers, governance and its funding with a view to establishing an institution responsible for statistics in a bid to support the East African Monetary Union.
Meanwhile, the House further asked a number of questions on pertinent matters of integration to the Council of Ministers.
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For more information, please contact:
Bobi Odiko Senior Public Relations Officer East African Legislative Assembly Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103 Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036 Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org Web: www.eala.org
About the East African Legislative Assembly: The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is put in effect by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 5th October, 2018: The first licences for a veterinary vaccine submitted for registration under the East African Community’s Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) have been issued.
Obtaining approval to place veterinary medicines on the market requires a marketing authorisation (licence) from the National Regulatory Authority in each Partner State where the product is to be sold. Until now, this involved applying for a licence separately in each country. The East African Community’s MRP system overcomes this lengthy, resource-intensive and often unpredictable process.
Through partnership between EAC, Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) and HealthforAnimals, EAC has implemented an initiative to harmonize the registration requirements and application procedure for veterinary immunologicals across all Partner States leading to mutual recognition. MRP allows applicants to apply simultaneously for licences in multiple countries. This saves time and allows countries and applicants to use their resources more efficiently. MRP increases the likelihood for the sustainable supply of quality-registered vaccines in the region.
Dr. David Balikowa, EAC’s Senior Livestock Officer in charge of implementing the project said “The process of developing the MRP system has been very helpful from a regional perspective allowing countries to learn from each other. We are looking forward to having more products registered through this innovative MRP regional system.”
Two other products are in the process of registration.
About East African Community The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States: the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
As one of the fastest growing regional economic blocs in the world, the EAC is widening and deepening co-operation among the Partner States in various key spheres for their mutual benefit. These spheres include political, economic and social.
For further press information on EAC, please contact: Owora Richard Othieno, Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department, Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: ooThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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About GALVmed
GALVmed, through its partners, makes livestock vaccines, medicines and diagnostics accessible and available to the millions of smallholder livestock and poultry keepers in developing countries for whom livestock is a lifeline. The international not-for-profit company harnesses the best available expertise and capabilities to develop vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for neglected livestock diseases affecting smallholders in Africa and South Asia. GALVmed is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Government. For more information, please visit www.galvmed.org
For further press information on GALVmed, please contact: Beatrice Ouma, Communications Manager, Tel: +254 772 157782, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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About HealthforAnimals
HealthforAnimals is the global animal medicines industry association that represents the animal health sector: manufacturers of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other animal health products throughout the world, as well as the associations that represent companies at national and regional levels
For further press information on HealthforAnimals, please contact: Alexander Rinkus, Communications Director, Tel: +32 2 543 7575 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 5th October, 2018: The East African Community (EAC) Partner States have intensfied efforts for preparedness and response following the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In a two day joint technical meeting involving the EAC Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) and the DRC held on 2nd and 3rd october 2018 in Entebbe, Uganda, all states reported a high alert position.
In the meeting, which was organised by the EAC Secretariat with support from various partners, the EAC Acting Head of Health, Dr. Michael Katende observed that the risk of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) for EAC Partner States was real and high. The Risk of EVD outbreak is hightened especially for those Partner States that share the border with DRC due to high of volume of people moving across the borders for trade and other reasons, but also due to the high Influx of refugees, into the EAC region.
At the meeting, the DRC was represented by a 12 man delegation, with a wealth of experience.
The meeting discussed the strengthenining of cross border disease surveillence and emergency preparedness and response. The meeting noted that the current outbreak in Beni town of the DRC was closer to Uganda’s border hence more efforts for active surveillance. Key to sucess of the efforts employed so far is that there were no confirmed cases of EVD in any of the EAC Partner States.
According to the delegation from DRC and World Health Organisation (WHO), the current EVD outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces in DRC was escalated by worsening insecurity, mistrust from affected communities, and extension into previously unaffected areas. As of 2ndOctober 2018, a total of 161 case had been reported, 129 confirmations and a case fatality rate of 57%.
All EAC Partner States at the meeting are currently on a high alert following the July 28th announcement of EVB outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces by WHO, and have undertaken various preparedness and response activities in case of an outbreak. All countries have undertaken evaluation of their national contigency plans for outbreak response and the capacities to implement them, activated emergency coordination structures with Rapid Response Teams (RRT) at all levels to monitor and respond in case of an outbreak. Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) have also been established to support the structures.
The staff managing the EOC and RRT have been trained and provided with appropriate equipment to detect and manage the outbreaks. Ambulances for patient transportation, sample storage and transportation, isolation/quarantine facilities, treatment facilities following International Health Regulations (IHR) have also been put in place.
Further the EAC Partner States and DRC have continued to build capacity of frontline health workers in high risk districts, including comunity health workers and security personnel.
In an effort to detect and quickly respond to an outbreak, the EAC Partner States have mapped areas, which have been categorised as High, Medium or Low risk and respoense mechanisms have been put in place. These include among others; Airports, crossborder entry and exit points and high economic activity areas like markets.
Border entry screening at all major border points in all high-risk districts have also been established. High and medium risk areas are being given special attention in terms of training of staff, supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), continuious screening among others. Using volunteers, and infrared thermometers, everyone crossing into Uganda from DRC is screened for body temperature. Those found with high temperature are further screened for Ebola-like symptoms.
On average, the busy border screening points receive 5,000 people, however during market days, the number grows tremendously; for instance, Mpondwe border point registers over 20,000 people during the market days - every Tuesday and Friday.
With support from WHO, the Republics of Uganda and Rwanda have also considered and plan to use of the Ebola Zaire Vaccine, specifically targeting frontline health workers who are managing the situation.
While the Republic of Burundi has employed using Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits (RDTs) to screen/test for EVD. The Republic of South Sudan (RSS) has made arrangements to refer samples to Uganda Virus Research Institute(UVRI) for testing.
In preparation for any suspected case, Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) have also been set up at Bundibugyo General Hospital, Bwera Hospital in Kasese, Rwebisengo Health Center in Ntoroko district and another is under construction at Naguru Friendship Hospital in Kampala.
These are fully equipped and on standby to manage any alert or suspect or confirmed case.
Risk communication and community engagement are also ongoing. Teams are engaged in door to door visits and distribution of Information Education Communication (IEC) material. Further to this, messages are also running on TV and radio to reach the wider public within and outside the high-risk districts.
The Public is urged to be on high alert too by observing a high sense of personal hygiene, avoid overcrowded places, direct contact with other people and to report cases of high temprature and bleeding from ears, nostrils and mouth to the nearest health facilities.
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For more information please contact: Owora Richard Othieno, Head of Department, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs; Tel: +255 784 835021; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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 Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 5th October, 2018: Germany has committed funding worth 61.5 million Euros to mark the 20th anniversary of her joint partnership with the East African Community.
On 5th October, the EAC Secretariat welcomed a delegation from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to discuss the future cooperation between both sides. These Government Negotiations are another milestone in the close EAC-German development cooperation.
The negotiations were led by H.E. Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary General of the EAC, and Mr Niels Breyer, Head of the Division East Africa at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Germany.
The Head of the German Delegation commended the EAC on its accomplishments and underlined that EAC-German cooperation contributes significantly to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mr Breyer further elaborated that Germany’s support to the EAC is based on Germany’s strategy as set forth in the Marshall Plan with Africa that aims to support partner countries in implementing the development visions and reform goals of the African Union's Agenda 2063.
Mr Breyer stressed the need for mutual commitments and called on the EAC to strengthen their own financial resources. He pointed out that closer economic cooperation will lead to the creation of job opportunities and improve the long-term prospects for young people throughout the region. With reference to the health sector, Mr Breyer stressed that a functioning health system is an important element in supporting the EAC in its further sustainable development and serves as a foundation for a strong workforce and thus for sustainable economic development.
In his remarks, EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko hailed German support over the past two decades which had enabled the Community to record significant achievements in diverse sectors, namely: Health and Pharmaceuticals, Trade and Customs; Gender and Education; monetary harmonization; institutional capacity strengthening, and; support to the Partnership Fund.
“We at the EAC fully embrace the priority areas embedded in the German Marshall Plan which include: economic diversification and boosting private sector investment and mobilization of private capital; value addition; investment in entrepreneurship, and technical and vocational training,” said Amb. Mfumukeko.
Both sides agreed to continue and extend their ongoing cooperation in the two focal areas of cooperation: “Regional Economic and Social Integration” and “Health”. In total, the German government committed €61.5 million for programmes with the EAC Secretariat in those fields.
In the area of “Regional Economic and Social Integration”, the German side committed €9.5 million for the follow-on programme “Support to the EAC integration process” that will go to promoting intra-regional trade through value addition in productive sectors, better market access, improved customs processes and harmonized standards.
Euro 1 million will be in support for the ongoing programme “Strengthening of a Regional Quality Infrastructure” that focusses on reliable quality control mechanism and services for products traded in the EAC region and exported abroad, specifically in the pharmaceutical sector as well as in subsectors of agro-processing.
In the area of health, the German government has committed €30 million for the Immunization programme which is implemented through Gavi, the Vaccine alliance. Moreover, €13 million will be for additional support of the Regional Network of Laboratories for Communicable Diseases that aims at enabling the EAC and its Partner States to diagnose potentially epidemic diseases, monitor anti-microbial resistance quickly and reliably on the ground and to launch effective responses immediately. Furthermore, the German government committed €3 million for the ongoing technical cooperation programme “Support to Pandemic Preparedness in the EAC-Region” which supports the EAC Secretariat in its coordinating and advisory role in pandemic preparedness for the Partner States.
With these new commitments, support of the EAC by the German government now amounts up to approximately €350 million.
Germany has been a strong supporter of the regional organization for two decades. On the occasion of this 20thanniversary, the German delegation and the EAC Secretariat joined in celebrations on the evening of 5th October at the EAC Headquarters.
Accompanying Mr Breyer in the German delegation at the bilateral negotiations were Mr Georg Rademacher, Senior Policy Officer for East Africa at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Dr Detlef Waechter, the German Ambassador to Tanzania and the EAC.
With Amb. Mfumukeko for the EAC were Deputy Secretaries General Hon. Christophe Bazivamo (Productive and Social Sectors) and Eng. Steven Mlote (Planning and Infrastructure). Others were the Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, Dr Said Matano, and Deputy Executive Secretaries Prof. Mike Kuria (Inter-University Council for East Africa) and Prof. Saidi Kibeya (East African Science and Technology Commission).
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For more information please contact: Owora Richard Othieno, Head of Department, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs; Tel: +255 784 835021; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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John Merikion Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Dar es Salaam Tel.: +255-22-2212-300
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 Court of Justice, Arusha, 30th September, 2018: The First Instance Division dismissed Dr Mpozayo Christophe’s Case against the Government of Rwanda over his arrest, detention, prosecution conviction and sentencing for the offence of inciting insurrection amongst the population for being in possession of ammunition. The Applicant, who is a Rwandan Citizen and former Staff of the Community in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), was seeking Court orders to declare that the government infringed the fundamental Principles of the Community as well as Rwandan Laws.
In ruling Court held that it is not satisfied by the Applicant that Criminal Case No.RP0017/14/HC/KIG was conducted against universally accepted principles of law, therefore declaration against his arrest, detention, trial and imprisonment being unlawful was declined.
Further Court said that the Applicant has not proved violation of the principles of law enshrined in Articles 6(d) and 7 (2) or the Treaty, hence Court not satisfied and declined to declare that the Republic of Rwanda violated the EAC Treaty and principles of good governance and rule of law as well as his conviction was unlawful as sought by the Applicant.
In addition Court considered that granting orders that the sentence imposed on the Applicant in Criminal Case No.RP0017/14/HC/KIG and be set aside as well as an order that the Applicant’s conviction be hereby set aside, would be tantamount to exercise an appellate jurisdiction over national courts, which jurisdiction the court is not clothed with, hence such orders sought declined to be granted.
On the prayer Court to award general damages to the Applicant, the Court said that it may award general damages in an appropriate case, however, in this case, it we are unable to do so because the Applicant has not proved his claims in his Reference hence prayer was declined. Similarly, Court found no basis to award aggravated and exemplary damages as sought by the Applicant, having not succeeded in his case.
Furthermore, Court noted that, the Applicant in his Written Submissions raised a claim for his unpaid monthly earning. Court retaliated that, such a claim is akin to a claim for special damages and that it is according to the law, that specific damages must be pleaded and proved. That In this case, they were not pleaded. In any event, the Applicant has not even succeeded in the Reference, hence the prayer was disallowed.
In conclusion, the Court said that, with regard to the prayer for costs, as stated in Rule 111(1), costs follow the event unless the Court for good reasons otherwise orders. In this case, the Applicant having failed to prove his claims under this Reference, he would not be entitled to costs. Ordinarily, he should be subjected to pay costs to the Respondent. However, the Court is aware that the Applicant could not afford to engage a lawyer to represent him initially and that the ones that represented him subsequently were doing so under a legal aid brief by the East African Law Society. In the circumstance, it is in the interest of justice that each party bears its own costs.
The Lawyer representing the Applicant, after the Judgment was delivered, he requested Court to provide him with the copies of the pleadings and the Judgment to enable him Appeal to the Appellate Division.
The Judgment was delivered by Honorouble Lady Justice Monica Mugenyi, (Principal Judge), Justice Isaac Lenaola (Deputy Principal Judge), Justice Dr Faustin Ntezilyayo, Justice Fakihi Jundu, and Justice Audace Ngiye
The Applicant was represented by Mr Joel Kimutai Bosek an Ms Moureen Okoth whilea the Respondent was represented by Counsel Arnest William holding brief for Nicholas Ntarugera Counsel for the Respondent AG Rwanda
Notes for Editors:
The Applicant underwent two different cases for two different charges or offences. In the first trial, he was arrested, detained, prosecuted, found innocent, acquitted and was accordingly released, while in the second trial he was arrested, detained, prosecuted, found guilty, convicted and sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment.
In the first criminal case, the Applicant was arrested on 8th November, 2013, detained and charged with the offences of defamation, insulting a person in a private area, conspiracy against the Government of Rwanda and being in illegal possession of arms (a grenade). He was acquitted of the charges on 31st March, 2014 and released on 2nd April, 2014.
In the second criminal case, the Applicant was arrested on 2nd April, 2014, detained and charged with a different offence to wit inciting insurrection or trouble amongst the population. The Applicant was tried on the said offence and on 8th April, 2015 was found guilty, convicted and sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment.
The Skype Chat documents, the WhatsApp conversation between the Applicant and one Munyampeta Jean Damascene was discovered in his seized laptop and produced before the trial court as evidence in the case against him of inciting insurrection or trouble amongst the population and the same were discovered after issuance of the decision to intercept the relevance communication and correspondence by the National Prosecutor, one Ruberwa Bonaventure on 25th October 2013.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Yufnalis Okubo Registrar East African Court of Justice Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 27 2162149 mail: Okubo [at] eachq.org www.eacj.org
About the East African Court of Justice:
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.
Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the respective National Courts in the Partner States.
East African Court of Justice Arusha, 30th September, 2018: The First Instance Division declined to grant Ex parte orders (orders given in the absence of the party against) in the Application filed by One Prof Paul Kiprono Chepkwony seeking Court orders to direct the government of Kenya to provide temporary school facilities to enable pupils pursue their education for the national examination (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education), whose schools were closed or destroyed by the government agents. The Applicant filed this Application for the mentioned orders pending the determination of the Inter parte Application (between two parties).
The Court in its Ruling said that in the absence of evidence of the current status quo in the matter before us, as well as to avoid the unnecessary eventuality of issuing superfluous orders in that regard; the court refrained from issuing the Orders sought without giving the Respondent the opportunity to be heard.
Court further said that, status quo of the matter is, after hearing from the Applicant that no arrangements whatsoever had been made by the Government of Kenya to ensure the continuity of the affected minors’ education, no supportive evidence was furnished to Court as would lend credibility to this contention. That documentary evidence indicative of the Respondent’s refusal or omission to ensure the said continuity would have been pertinent in that regard.
In addition, the Court noted that as an organ of the Community, the Court is also enjoined to observe the principles of the Community in actualization of its mandate. Thus, under Article 23(1) of the Treaty the Court is enjoined to ensure ‘adherence to the law’ in the execution of its mandate, as it was correctly submitted by Counsel for the Applicant, that Partner States are enjoined to observe the principles in Article 6(d) of the Treaty in pursuit of the objectives of the East African Community.
However, Adherence to the law in that regard necessarily entails giving due regard to the principles of fair trial and due process in the promotion of the rule of law. Quite obviously, the dictates of fair trial, due process and natural justice would require that all parties to a dispute are heard before a decision in respect thereof is made. The only exception to this cardinal judicial practice would arise in deserving cases as captured in Rule 21(2) of our Rules.
Court to grant Interim Orders is generally governed by Article 39 of the Treaty, which provides that; “The Court may, in a case referred to it, make any interim orders or issue any directions which it considers necessary or desirable.Interim orders and other directions issued by the Court shall have the same effect as interim as decisions of the Court.” The Court added that legal provision does not draw any distinction between ex parte and inter parte applications thereof. Also it stated that, provision for such applications to be heard ex parte is enclosed in Rule 21(2) of the Court’s Rules of Procedure for deserving cases. The Rule provides that “No motion shall be heard without notice to the parties affected by the application. Further, that provided, however, that the First Instance Division, if satisfied that the delay caused by proceeding in the ordinary way would or might entail irreparable injustice, may hear the motion and make an ex parte order upon such terms as to costs or otherwise, and subject to such undertaking, if any, as the Division deems just.
In addition, Court said that after hearing carefully the Counsel for the Applicant, it noted that, in his arguments he did not specifically address the issue of irreparable injustice his client stood to suffer in the event that the sought ex parte Order was denied, that he however suggested that it will be argued at the hearing in the main case (Reference) to the interruption the impugned evictions had occasioned to the 5,000 minors affected by the said action, and more so, those of them that were due to sit the KCPE examinations.
Further court said that, it is live on the interim nature of this Application and would not, therefore, wish to pre-empt the merits of the same Application to be heard inter partes. It is also persuaded as to the gravity of the issues raised by the Applicant, indeed, it seems apparent on the face of the record that those issues arise from a historical land question. However, for purposes of application for ex parte Orders such as this before court, it is imperative that a court weighs the justice of granting (even on temporary basis) the orders sought without hearing from the opposite party against the urgency of the sought orders and the injustice of disallowing the same.
The Court hence disallowed the Application with no orders to costs and also ordered that the Application for interim orders inter partes be fixed for hearing forthwith and due service in respect thereof be undertaken.
The Application was supported by the Affidavit of Prof. Kiprono Chepkwony (Applicant), which raises matters of grave concern including allegation of forceful plus arbitrary evictions; destruction of residential properties and government – inspired racial polices based on hatred, in respect of which prompted cries the Respondent’s Ministry of Education has allegedly remained silent. It is suggested in the same Affidavit that more than five thousand (5,000) minors have been forced out of school as a result of the evictions and destruction of schools, a number of whom had registered for the KCPE examination but have since been allegedly banned from accessing their schools.
Notes for Editors:
In Reference pending before the First Instance Division, the Applicant is challenging alleged actions of the Respondent’s officers and/or agents of the forcefully eviction of the civilian population from their dwelling places and homes adjacent to Mau Forest in a cruel, horrifying, degrading, traumatizing and inhuman manner.
The Applicant, Prof. Paul Kiprono Chepkwony is a Kenyan citizen and Governor of Kericho County. The Applicant brings this action in his private capacity and on behalf of minors evicted from Mau Forest between June to August 2018. The Applicant has been given the authority by the parents and/or guardians of the minors.
It is the Applicant’s case that, the urgency of this Application is borne by the fact that, the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and its officers carried out evictions of thousands of people who have been residents in the farms adjacent to the Mau Forest Complex for several decades causing serious humanitarian crises and human rights abuses that have adversely affected the government responsibility to provide education.
That the Government of Kenya has failed to adhere to the principle of good governance and the rule of law as envisaged in the Treaty establishing the East African Community by evicting the Applicants from their homes without due notice and provisions of alternative living and learning centres for the primary schools pupils.
Further pupils from 23 primary schools have been denied basic rights, such as food, shelter, health facilities and access to pre-primary and primary education.
The Applicant alleges that, the Government of Kenya is practising open and outright discrimination by punishing young children because of apparent poverty and landlessness of their parents and/or guardians.
Further that schools opened after August 2018 holiday and the pupils whose parents and/or guardians were evicted cannot go back to school as they have been displaced from their homes and some of the schools were destroyed by the government agents. That the candidate pupils who have been registered for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) have been denied ample facilities to prepare for the said exams, when the rest of the pupils in the Country are busy preparing for the exams.
The Ruling was delivered by Honorouble Lady Justice Monica Mugenyi, (Principal Judge), Justice Dr Faustin Ntezilyayo (Deputy Principal Judge), Justice Fakihi Jundu, Justice Audace Ngiye & Justice Dr Charles Oyo Nyawello.
The Applicant Prof Paul Kiprono Chepkwony was present in Court with his Advocates Mr Joel Kimutai Bosek & Ms Moureen Okoth.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Yufnalis Okubo Registrar East African Court of Justice Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 27 2162149 mail: Okubo [at] eachq.org www.eacj.org
About the East African Court of Justice:
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.
Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the respective National Courts in the Partner States.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 29th September, 2018: This morning the EAC Secretariat hosted a delegation of 17 Senior Indian Army Officers led by Brigadier Sandeep Rawat, who are in the United Republic of Tanzania to acquaint themselves with economic and socio-political development, political perspectives and security outlook of the country.
The Officers were accompanied to the Secretariat by Senior Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) Officers.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Secretary General of the East African Community, the Director of Trade, Al haji Rashid Kibowa, commended the cordial relations existing between the Indian government and the regional bloc.
The Director briefed the guests on the current status of the regional integration process and focused on Trade and Multilateral Issues of the East African Community. He expressed appreciation for the contribution that the Indian investors have made in the manufacturing and business sectors in the region.
He informed the officers that the Community had negotiated Trade Agreements including COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA), Africa Continental FTA, EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, and EAC – U.S Trade and Investment Partnership to facilitate market entry for EAC exports.
The region had also developed a Trade Negotiations Framework (TNF) to guide the Partner States in negotiating trade agreements with third Parties.
The Director also elaborated measures that have been put in place to eliminate Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) that remain a serious obstacle to trade within the region.
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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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 28th September, 2018: The Ministerial Session of the 6th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Environment and Natural Resources Management (6th SCENR) was today called off due to lack of quorum at the EAC Headquarters.
The Rules of Procedure for the Council of Ministers provide that quorum of the meeting of the Council is all Partner States’ representation. The representation at the Ministerial Session of the Council requires a Minister or Ministers designated by that Partner State.
When the meeting convened at the Ministerial level to receive the Report of the Coordination Committee this afternoon, it was realized that there were no Ministers from some Partner States to attend the Meeting hence the call off. The Secretariat is consulting with the Partner States on when to convene the Ministerial Session either by video conferencing or face to face meeting.
The objective of the 6th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Environment and Natural Resources Management was to review progress and provide policy guidance on the implementation of Environment and Natural Resource Management matters within the Community.
The meeting was specifically to consider the implementation status of previous Decisions and Directives of the Sectoral Councils/Councils on the environment and natural resources management; Policy, Legal and Institutional Frameworks matters including the Protocol on Environment and Natural Resources Management.
Also on the agenda was the Terrestrial Ecosystems matters; Aquatic Ecosystems matters; Pollution Control matters; Climate Change matters; and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management matters.
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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.
