East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 17th May, 2021: New momentum for cooperation between the East African Community and the Federal Republic of Germany following the signing of two Government Agreements thus paving the way for the implementation of projects of a total volume of US$65 million in the areas of health, digital skills and water resources management.
The agreements were signed by EAC Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki and H.E. Regine Hess, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Republic of Tanzanian and the EAC.
East African Community, Kampala, 15th May, 2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, concluded the first phase of visits to the EAC Institutions in the Republics Rwanda and Uganda over the weekend.
The visits, which started on the 7th May, 2021, covered the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) in Kigali, Rwanda, the Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) in Kampala; and the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) in Entebbe, Uganda.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 14th May, 2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Museveni at State House, in Entebbe, Uganda.
During the visit, the Secretary General thanked the President and other members of the EAC Summit for his appointment.
“I am cognizant of the very heavy responsibilities inherent in this appointment. I will remain dedicated, diligent and trustworthy so as to ensure we achieve tangible results for the betterment of the livelihoods of our people in East Africa,” said Dr. Mathuki.
Dr. Mathuki briefed the President on the current EAC state of play on various integration matters including progress on consolidating the Customs Union, implementation of the Common Market and Monetary Union protocols, as well as progress towards attainment of the EAC Political Confederation.
On his part, President Museveni reiterated his commitment to the EAC integration agenda and urged the Secretary General to ensure that the integration process takes its rightful place.
The President advised the Secretary General to urgently re-arrange the focus of the Community in strategic sectors to create jobs and wealth for the people of East Africa. He noted Agri-business; Industries; ICT and Service as critical sectors, which can change the lives of East Africans.
President Museveni commended the intention of the Secretary General to work closer with other EAC Organs and Institutions in order to achieve the objectives of the Community.
H.E Museveni pledged his support and that of the Summit to the Secretary General as he begins his tour of duty for the next five years.
Dr. Mathuki was accompanied by among others, the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Ngoga, the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice, Justice Nestor Kayobera, the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo and Director General Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda.
Also present at the meeting was the Uganda's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Mrs. Edith Mwanje and other government officials.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 13th May, 2021; The EAC Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki has promised the business community in the region that he will do everything within his power to address the vice of Non-Tariff Barriers to trade and trade wars, and work towards raising the volume of intra-regional trade from the current level of below 20% to more than 50% over the next five years.
“I pledge to work hand in hand with all stakeholders in private and public sector to make sure that we remove NTBs in real time. It cannot be business as usual but rather a need for unity of purpose – working collectively between private and public sector as a team to serve the great people of East Africa”, added the Secretary General.
East African Community, Kampala, 13th May,2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki today paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan, at his hotel in Kampala, Uganda on the sidelines of the swearing in ceremony of the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Museveni.
During the meeting, the Secretary General thanked the President and other members of the EAC Summit for his appointment and pledged to serve the community diligently, and sought their support as he begins his tour of duty.
On his part, the President underscored the importance of the Partner States to work together as a Community. He also called upon the Partner States to ensure their participation in statutory meetings for timely decision making on matters pertaining to the integration agenda. The President further pledged his support to the Secretary General during his tenure.
The President called on the EAC Secretariat to support the participation of the South Sudan’s private sector in the affairs of the Community.
H.E Mayardit accepted the request from the Secretary General to visit Juba and brief him on the status of the integration agenda.
Dr. Mathuki was accompanied by the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 10th May, 2021: The EAC Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, has called upon the various government agencies at Namanga border to hold regular consultative meetings with traders to identify and address factors that affect intra-regional trade.
Dr. Mathuki was speaking during his visit to the Namanga One Stop Border Post (OSBP) on Monday.
The EAC Secretary General was accompanied by the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Republic of Kenya, Amb. Dr. John Simbachaweme.
East African Community, Kigali, Rwanda, 8th May, 2021: The East African Community Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki has pledged to work closely with the private sector in the region, adding that they were the key drivers for deeper integration.
“I want to assure you that I shall do all that is within my powers to ensure that the private sector plays its rightful role in the integration process,” said Dr. Mathuki.
Speaking at the Private Sector Dinner Roundtable held in Kigali, Rwanda, the Secretary General informed the CEO’s that it was the vision of the EAC Founding Fathers that the private sector would work together with the Community to promote the integration process by creating wealth and employment for the people of East Africa.
“I intend to go the extra mile to improve the working relationship between policymakers and the business community, through Public-Private sector dialogue initiatives,” said the Secretary General.
Dr. Mathuki affirmed that he believes in an enhanced conducive regional business policy environment that takes into account proposals and recommendations from the private sector, adding that this would build confidence in the region as an attractive investment destination and trade hub.
The Secretary General highlighted to the business community his priority areas that he believes should be addressed to promote the growth of the private sector in the region.
Disclosing his areas of priority, the Secretary General said he will first create an enabling environment that supports the Customs Union and Common Market to function at their optimal levels to promote economic growth, and; establishing a Single Currency to be used throughout East Africa as envisaged under the East African Monetary Union Protocol which will, among other things, ease trade and the cost of doing business within the region.
The SG further said he intends to put in place a Dispute Settlement Mechanism as a follow up to the ratification of the Customs Union Protocol in addition to a Trade Remedies Committee.
In addition, the Secretary General said he will work closely with Partner States and the private sector to reduce the cost of energy which said has a big impact on the competitiveness of products, and; rollout of the One Area Network to all Partner States to boost trade and interaction among EAC Citizens through affordable mobile calling and data tariffs.
On a joint regional response to Covid-19, Dr Mathuki called for joint measures between Partner States’ governments and the business community against the Covid-19 pandemic
The dinner round table was organized by the East African Business Council in partnership with the GIZ- BDI under the theme “Enhancing a Private Sector led Integration & Emerging Opportunities in East Africa.”
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community, Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th May, 2021: The East African Community Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki has called on the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) to invest more on innovation and creativity in their programmes that bring the vision of a fully integrated and developed EAC closer to reality.
Addressing the staff at the headquarters of EASTECO in Kigali, Rwanda, the Secretary General disclosed that the EAC had established EASTECO specifically because it believes that education particularly sciences, technology and mathematics in addition to research research were the foundations of any competitive economy.
Dr. Mathuki reiterated how critical the Commission was in the EAC integration process to unlock the growth and market potential for the region and contribute to equitable and sustainable development as envisaged in the EAC’s Vision 2050.
Dr. Mathuki urged all staff of EASTECO to work as a team and make sure that they live-up to the expectations of the people in bringing solutions in areas of technology.
“We have been given the privilege to serve our citizens at the regional level and therefore utmost commitment to duty is a must,” he said.
On his part, the Acting Executive Secretary of EASTECO, Mr. Fortunate Muyambi, briefed the Secretary General on the key achievements and challenges of the Institution. He called for Secretary General’s support in removing some of the bottlenecks hindering the commission to from executing its mandate in the region
The purpose of the Secretary General’s visit to EASTECO was familiarize himself with EAC institutions and to understand their contribution to the integration process and the challenges they face in the discharge of their mandates.
Meanwhile, from the EASTECO headquarters in Kigali, the Secretary General attended his first EAC Council of Ministers, which took place virtually on 7th May, 2021.
The 42nd Extra-ordinary meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers considered several matters geared towards deepening and widening the regional integration agenda that include the report of the Audit Commission on the East African Community Financial Statement for financial year 2018/2019; recruitment of staff and the role of the Ad-hoc Service Commission as well as outstanding payments to East African Legislative Assembly Members.
Accompanying the SG to the EASTECO Headquarters was the EALA Speaker Rt. Hon. Ngoga Martins and the Deputy Secretary General in charge of the Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th May, 2021: The East African Community is all set to fill 49 vacant positions within its Organs and Institutions through competitive recruitment after the Council of Ministers gave the green light to the composition of a panel to undertake the recruitment.
The Council, as a once off measure, gave guidance on undertaking the recruitment of staff using a mechanism whereby members of the panel from the Secretariat have an equal voice alongside other members of the panel from Partner States for attributing marks to the candidates.
The Council, which held its 42nd Extra-Ordinary Meeting virtually, added that at both the shortlisting and interviewing levels, there should be seven persons (1 from the Secretariat/Organ/Institution and 6 from the Partner States) awarding marks from which the average will be got.
Some of the positions that have been vacant for almost two years include those of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk to the East African Legislative Assembly.
The Council further rescinded the decisions of the 39th Meeting of Council directing the EAC Ad hoc Service Commission to undertake the recruitments
The recruitment process has been in limbo after the then Secretary General and the East African Law Society questioned the legality of the Ad Hoc Service Commission at the East African Court of Justice.
The Council further directed the Secretariat to re-advertise all the previously advertised positions.
The Council also directed the Secretariat to request the court to expedite the hearing of the case challenging the legality of the Ad hoc Commission as a matter of urgency in order to enable the Council to perform its mandate to amend the Staff Rules and Regulations 2006.
The admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo received a major boost after the Council adopted a budget amounting to US$188,150 for the next financial year beginning 1st July, 2021 to be drawn from the EAC General Reserve Fund for activities related to the admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo into the Community, and referred the same to EALA for debate and approval.
The monies will, among other things, be spent on a verification mission to be conducted by the EAC on the admission of DRC as a member. The verification mission will consist of officials from the EAC Organs and Institutions as well as from the six Partner States.
The Summit of EAC Heads of State at its 21st Ordinary Meeting held on 27th February, 2021, considered a request by DRC to join the Community and directed the Council to undertake a verification mission in accordance with the EAC Procedure for Admission of New Members into the Community and report to the 22nd meeting of the Summit.
Among the Ministers who attended the meeting that was chaired by Kenya’s Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of EAC and Regional Development, Hon. Ken Obura, were Hon. Amb. Ezechiel Nibigira (Minister for EAC Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, Burundi), Hon. Deng Alor Kuol (Minister for EAC Affairs, South Sudan), Hon. Prof. Nshuti Manasseh (Minister of State for EAC Affairs, Rwanda), Hon. Maj. Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire (Minister for EAC Affairs, Uganda) and Hon. Palomagamba John Kabudi (Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Tanzania).
Also in attendance at the meeting was the EAC Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki. This was Dr. Mathuki’s first Council meeting since assuming office on 26th April, 2021.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 6th May, 2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community, today paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda at State House, Kigali.
The courtesy call is the first official engagement by the Secretary General’s with the Rwandan Head of State since he took office on 25th April, 2021.
