(From L to R) Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza, Tanzanian President
Jakaya Kikwete, President Uhuru Kenyatta, host President Yoweri Museveni
and Rwandan President Paul Kagame during the 15th Ordinary Summit of
The East African Community Heads of State at Speke Resort, Kampala.
PHOTO | PSCU
PSCU
KAMPALA
Ugandan
President Yoweri Museveni has commended President Uhuru Kenyatta for
his political goodwill to the East African Community.
Speaking
during the formal handing over of the EAC chairmanship to President
Kenyatta on Saturday, President Museveni said through political
goodwill, the time taken for goods to reach Kampala from the port of
Mombasa had reduced from 18 days to three, while it only took four days
for cargo from the port to reach Rwanda. (READ: Sh2.3bn grant to boost operations at the port)
President
Museveni praised the Kenyan government's commitment to enhanced
regional trade and urged EAC member countries to hasten the process of
integration.
The Ugandan leader also claimed Africa
was facing a threat to its sovereignty from the Western world and
integration was the only option.
He expressed
gratitude to Kenyans for launching a renewed resistance movement against
imperialism and hegemonism by the way they voted against arrogant
meddling in their internal affairs.
“The way the Kenyan people voted last March was the second but peaceful Mau-mau resistance,” he said
.
.
PROGRESS
The
15th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State ended with a communiqué which
underlined the progress achieved so far in the integration process.
At
the summit, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja of Rwanda was appointed Judge of
the East African Court of Justice (Appelate Division) and Lady Justice
Monica Mugenyi from Uganda appointed Judge of the East African Court of
Justice (First Instance Division). Justice Isaac Lenaola from Kenya was
appointed Deputy Principal Judge of the same court.
The
summit also received the progress report on the negotiations for the
admission of the Republic of South Sudan and Somalia to the Community.
In
its communiqué read by the Secretary General Dr. Richard Sezibera, the
summit asked its partner states to conclude the ratification process of
the East Africa Monetary Union by July 2014. (READ: Uhuru - EAC single currency to strengthen competition)
The summit also directed that the internationalized new generation East African Passport be launched by November 2015.
Also
discussed at the summit was the security situation in the region and
the need for concerted efforts towards combating terrorism and negative
forces in the region.
No comments:
Post a Comment