Category Archives: East African Community News

African leaders discussion plan to launch mega free trading area for East and Southern African regions

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PLANS are underway to establish one of the biggest trading blocs in Africa, which will bring together the common Market for East and Southern Africa {Comesa}, the East African Community {EAC and the Southern African Development Community {SADC}.

This was one of the several resolution reached by the Heads of State from East and Southern Africa when they converged in Johannesburg South Africa two weeks ago to thrash out issues ahead of the planned integration.

The existing three African trading blocs made up of 26 countries, with a market of close to 600 million people and with an estimated gross domestic product {GDP} OF USD 860 billion, are pushing for a free trade area.

But according to one participant, drawing the line from the South African meeting, individual blocs have huge tasks ahead of them as the meeting agreed on a raft of agreements.

The three blocs agreed on a three phase roadmap including a preparation phase of between six months to one year from June 2011.

Phase one will have involved negotiations on the trading of goods which would take place for between 24 to 60 months and the last phase will deal with the actual integration

Te officials, however, were unable to set up the time table for the final phase, signaling that “Mega Bloc” could be years away from being a reality.

The first phase required the three Tripartite Free Trade Areas member to disclose their trade agreements with countries within and outside the newly earmarked bloc in the first phase.

Different member countries have varying agreements with similar countries and there is urgent need for harmonization if the 26 countries with a combined gross domestic product of USD 860 were to trade freely amongst themselves.

The East African Community, however, is reported to have agreed that as much as the greater bloc offered a larger market for its goods, it was ahead for its members to belong to more than one bloc and need to agree to the terms of the two blocs for the achievement of the final bloc.

The Kenyan Permanent Secretary to the East African Community David Nalo said during an interview that the most successful of the three blocs might attract more attention leaving the EAC in peril.

“The world market prefers the stronger and bigger bloc with an extended market,” explained the PS.

Nalo, however, added that the blocs would enhance harmonization of tariff among he three member countries. Each of the three blocs has different tariffs therefore its member countries making hard for fast growing extra trade compare with other blocs.”We do more business with outsiders and we are a core market to many of them.”

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East African currencies hit the lowest record against the dollar

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

A week after the joint presentation of the annual budget for the expenditure of governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for the financial year 2011/2012 the currencies of the three sister states touched new low in trading against the US dollar, putting pressure on Central Banks across the region to raise interest rates in the face of accelerating inflation.

Kenya shilling breached the Kshs.90 level against the dollar, while the Ugandan shilling touched US 2,428 to the dollar and the Tanzanian shilling traded at the record lowest rate of Tshs 1,595 to the dollar.

In the coming weeks, demand for the dollar, especially from the importers in the energy sector, is expected to intensify pressure on the East African currencies.

As importers – mainly in energy and food sectors- pass on the extra costs, inflation is likely to remain high within the region, stifling growth in some key areas.

Moreover, if commercial banks anticipates that local currencies will lose to the dollar, they will hold onto their dollars, further reducing supply.

Central banks have in the past tried to rein in speculative activities by commercial banks with little success.

There have also been attempts to mop up local currencies through repurchase agreements but with limited success.

The only tool that the three central banks are likely to deploy is a hike in key interest rates, such as the Central Bank Rates, the rate at which banks borrow from them.

So far, the Central Bank of Kenya has preferred a moderate increase of 25 basic points to the CBR. But with the shilling trading at record lows, the rate rise is expected to double to 50 basis points at the next Monetary Policy Committee meting.

Analysts said should the benchmark interest rate rise, commercial banks will also read from the same script, increasing the cost of borrowing to consumer and businesses.

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East African nations in top gear to combat the spread of Ebola virus which has caused alot of panicking in the region

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Competence and efficiency of health ministries in East Africa and their medical teams of experts has once again put to test following a recent fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola scourge in Uganda.

When the outbreak of Ebola virus hit the cities within the region, particularly in the member state of the East African Community it caused alt of panicking forcing the health official to get into combative mood, scaring travelers and even in some places seemed to have hurt and dis harmonized the tourism industry, which is the mainstay of the region economies.

Ebola virus has been on and off in the region and in the wider Sub-Saharan Africa ever since it struck in the DRC {Congo} in the early 1980s.It spreads into the neighboring countries of Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon and Uganda and claimed the lives of close to 300 people including a medic doctor.

The news of Ebola scourge sent the governments into high state of alertness, beefing security and medical checks along their frontiers. It has since caused havoc with traveling crossing borders into the neighboring countries causing undue delays at the immigration and health check-points.

At the same the Kenya government has ordered that all the children under the ages of five years, particularly those living in the villages and locations close to its common border with Uganda be vaccinated against polio.

The exercise which will last for the whole of this month{June 2011}targeted children in Busia and Butula districts, which borders Uganda, the district Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ambrose Fwamba has disclosed.

The mass vaccination exercise came as the result of the outbreak of polio in the neighboring Uganda since last October in Bugiri district in eastern part of that country which border Busia County across the common borders.

The polio vaccination on the Kenyan side of the border is just a follow of an earlier one in November, December and early in January, said the MOH.

The polio vaccination will be carried out by the government in collaboration with the developing partners, Dr Fwamba said, adding that the medical personnel would move from home to home to ensure that every child living in those homes is vaccinated.. It will involve 108 health workers will be involved, they would undertake the exercise between June 4, and 8th.These staff have been trained for the job.

Last year, polio vaccination was undertaken by the public health ministry in partnership with development partners. Those targeted were 902,721 children under the age of five I the 22 high risk districts.

In 2009, the oral polio vaccination coverage for Kenya was 73 per cent. Children under five years of age are most vulnerable to polio, infection virus disease that affects the nervous system.

In the history of the deadly Ebola, the first case this year was registered two weeks ago of a 12 year old a Ugandan girl in Luwero district, since then health officials in that country have been carrying out the vital investigative procedures in the district, which is situated only about 22 kilometers south west of the capital, Kampala to curb the virus from spreading.

Ebola virus has, since discovery, been categorized by the World Health Organization {WHO} into five species, depending on which area it has struck. The species are classified as “Zaire Ebola-virus, Gabon Ebola-virus, Sudan Ebola-virus Reston Ebola-virus, Cote d’Ivoire Ebola-virus and Bundibugwo Ebola-virus.

The Ebola virus is the most feared disease, was first detected in 1976 in Yambuku a small village in Mongala Province in north eastern region of DRC Congo formerly Zaire. Here, the lethal attacked one Mabala Loleka a school teacher, who became the first case recorded of the previously unheard deadly epidemic.

From the DRC Congo the virus invisibly “sneaked into the neighboring Sudan. In the same year only this time I different species form.

A worker in a cotton factory in Nzara, a county in Sudan, was the first to test death at the hands of Ebola fatality in the region.

N 1989, the Reston Ebola virus a sub-type was detected by health scientists in Reston, Virginia, USA.I was not a human being case, this time, and according to WHO assessment, the virus was quarantined in laboratory monkeys between 1987 and 1996, a period documented and record the death several monkeys reportedly imported from the Philippines to the US and to Italy.

The Cote d’Ivoire Ebola-species had claimed only one human life, but several Chipanzees were confirmed dead in the Western African coastal nation, also formerly known as Ivory Coast. The outbreak was reported to have occurred in November 1994.

Cutting a cross the borders of several African countries, the Ebola virus found its way back into its origin-DR Congo in 1995 only to claimed more lives in Kwikit {250 people died}I had more deaths in Yambuku {151 dead},19 years before then.

Gabon did not escape the Ebola a virus with the test case reported in 1994, leaving the trails of nine deaths in its path. The Ebola virus later dominated the region with sequential outbreaks in February and July 1996, having had a fair share of its dominance in the Sub-Saharan Africa, Ebola went into slumber and was unheard of for four years after the 1996 Gabon outbreak.

At the dawn of 2000, The Ugandan community was awakened by frightening news of the outbreak of a virus clearly unheard of by most Ugandans then in Gulu in the northern part of the country. However, it did not take long for the name “Ebola” to become a household name, considering the attention its prevalence was in the local and international media. Even with 21 million populations then, the average reported death of 162 as of December 2000 reported by WHO was too much contain.

Dr Mathews Lukwaya, who succumbed to the deadly bug at Lacor Hospital that fateful year become the first medical doctor to die of Ebola in Uganda. When the virus of sub-type Bundigwo Ebola-virus struck, Uganda lost yet another medical doctor from the disease. Dr Jonah Lule was his name. He was serving as the medical officer of health at Kikyo Health Center.

A highly contagious disease, Ebola is transmitted disease by direct contact with the blood, stool, secretions, organs or other body fluids of the infected persons. WHO has warns that any direct contact with the body of the deceased person, especially during burial ceremonies can accelerate the transmission of the virus.

Dr Lukwaya and Dr Lule were reported not to have got with patients of the virus ,which could explain the cause of their demise.

The WHO reports also indicated thathandling0fn Ebola infected o the dead Chimpanzees, gorilla and forest antelopes to a large extent account for the infection of the human in Cote d’Ivoire and DRC Congo and Gabon.

The WHO advice for Ebola reported cases, the isolation strategy is the key in containing the virus within a limited area. In medical facilities, suspected person should be isolated from other patients and highly protective medical attention provided. It is important to trace and follow up any persons the suspected individual might have come into direct contact with to prevent unknown consequential deaths.

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EAC: Cross border trades between some EAC member states is still cumbersome despite of the last year’s signing oft the Common Market protocol

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

KENYAN businessmen are still facing many obstacles, which are yet to be eliminated despite the recent signing of the East African Community Common Make protocol.

A survey carried out by this writer at Sirare and Namanga and also at Busia and Malaba borders posts has revealed.

It shows the initial high expectation have been dampened and merchants say free trade is not yet to be on the practical sight, but remained only on papers.

Nearly a year after the take off of the Common Market protocol a number of Kenyan traders, especially those involved in transportation of cargoes across the border says there is no sign of proper coordination of activities between the three countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, which are the founding members of the East African Community.

The traders gave the example of border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania at Sirare and Namanga border posts as the most cumbersome.

For instance, they say, the two countries at the very different levels of making cargo clearance faster, which frustrates the transport companies a lot.

In Kenya, one can now get clearance in less than six hours, while in Tanzania it may take up to 14 days before the truck is allowed to enter into that country unless one makes prior arrangements, “One frustrated trader said.

The agencies involved in quality assurance and certification such as bureau of the standards are also very detached, causing losses for manufacturers and transporters.

“Coming from Tanzania, transporters are allowed to enter Kenya with their first consignment while it is being tested, but if it is to Tanzania, the cargo stays at the border while the samples are tested, which can take even up to six months,” he added.

There is also inconsistency in the maximum weight allowed for trucks. In Kenya for example, the maximum truck weight is 47 tones while in Tanzania it is 50 tones, the three differences is unused capacity wile exporting to Tanzania, but while importing to Kenya one pays heavy fines if it exceeds,” lamented one exporter.

Mr Hajj Noor Burrow a Kenyan exporter was quoted this week by the Nairobi publication the NAIROBISTAR as saying that there are continuous efforts by Tanzanian authorities to frustrate Kenyan business people..

Burrow says, sometimes Kenyans are denied entry into Tanzania on grounds that their travel documents are invalid, despite such document having accepted and cleared by the immigration officials on the Kenya side of the b order as being the valid ones.

Burrow further explains that the frustration is not only in the public offices, but are also visible in private companies.

“Banks in Tanzania are refusing Kenyan traders to open transaction accounts restraining them from doing business there, and ye the Tanzanian citizens can easily open accounts in Kenyan banks,”

He explained, in some instances, “We have to use Tanzanian citizens to open accounts for transactions which carries a high risk as some have run away with our money”

Currently the statistics show that Kenya exports to Tanzania stands at Kshs 30 billion a year and imports from there stands at around Kshs 8 billion annually.

The Ministry of the EAC Affairs, however, says that there are some practical procedures, which the Kenyan traders are not aware of and that si what is leading to frustrations.

Prof Helen Sambili, the Kenyan Minister for the EAC Affairs says implementations is a gradual process, even though traders may expect some issues to be ironed out and resolved overnight.

She said this while official opening the Regional Integration Centers {RICs},adding that “the task of RICs is to facilitate cross border trade and open an automated system for handling customs data and declarations which will shorten clearance times.

On the Kenyan-Uganda border the clearance exercises seemed to have loosened and trucks were quickly accessing their destinations.

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Uganda: Museveni Sworn in Amid Worries Over Democracy Flaws…..!

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Folks,

Do Not Be Fooled People…! Birds of The Same Feather Stay & Work Together….!

Sad to say, Corruption, Impunity and Terrorism has gone to High Definition level in the HUB of Somali Terrorism, Pirating and Drug Trafficking at Eastleigh Nairobi.

What makes you think they do not enjoy the comfort zone of Coalition Government Protectorate in cohort with Politicians Interests…….

And why would these politicians behave in such daring and boldly……….Masters of their Art………In their free world…….

Stay Focused…….and watch the Scenarios…….!……

May God Keep us all safe and secure…..!

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

– – – – – – – – – – –

Museveni Sworn in Amid Worries Over Democracy
Mkinga Mkinga

12 May 2011

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was yesterday sworn in for the fifth time as the Head of State, at a colourful ceremony in Kampala, amid post-election tensions with the opposition.But as his supporters cheered and ululated, top political commentators in Dar es Salaam expressed concern over the state of democracy in Uganda, where opposition politicians have in the recent past been subjected to extreme violence and brutality.

Tanzanian scholars and political analysts said the recent events in Uganda have portrayed Mr Museveni, who waged a guerrilla war and seized power in 1986, as a new challenge to the democratisation process in the East African region that would have to be dealt with.

Speaking to The Citizen, the critics said the chaotic scenes in Uganda, where security forces had been clamping down on the opposition with excessive force, showed President Museveni, “as a person who will suppress democracy in the region”.

His failure to restore peace, especially in Karamoja, which is ravaged by cattle rustlers, was also cited as a challenge that Mr Museveni’s fellow East Africa Community (EAC) leaders should address.In Kampala, thousands of people, both the young and old, had thronged the Kololo ceremonial grounds to witness the swearing-in ceremony that was also attended by several African heads of state, including President Jakaya Kikwete, and diplomats.

But in an interview with The Citizen in Dar es Salaam, a renowned political scientist, Prof Mwesiga Baregu, said President Museveni had been more militaristic than political. “Museveni had been a warlord before he came to power. But in politics you can see him as a man against democracy, judging from the recent clamping down on his rival, Dr Besigye,” he said.Prof Baregu, who now teaches at the Dar Campus of St Augustine University of Tanzania (Saut), said: “His re-election presents a challenge to all EAC leaders to start thinking about the political future of Ugandans.”

For his part, a University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) political science lecturer, Dr Benson Bana, said Mr Museveni had initially played his part as a Ugandan patriot and one of the better leaders on the African continent.

However, he added, the Ugandan leader had overstayed, proving the assertion that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupt absolutely”.

He added: “President Museveni helped to bring harmony in his country and rebuild it from the ruins of his predecessors. He should now not leave a disintegrated Uganda.” Dr Bana urged him to think of retiring soon.

“Mr Museveni has had time to prepare a successor to continue his legacy and champion what he stands for in terms of ideology and policies. Uganda is blessed with a lot of people who qualify to serve as head of state.”

Another UDSM lecturer, Dr Azaveli Lwaitama, noted that as Mr Museveni was taking his oath, only one of the eight opposition presidential candidates was there to witness the event.

“This shows that the others are not satisfied with what has happened… it should be a challenge to him (Mr Museveni) as well,” he said.

He also criticised the inauguration speech. “He never even once used words such as socialism and kept switching from English to Luganda, and didn’t speak Kiswahili. In spite of his army’s parade being conducted in Kiswahili, he talked of his NRM as being a party that subscribes to Pan Africanism,” Dr Lwaitama said.

He recalled that when he came to power in 1986, Mr Museveni was seen as one of a new breed of African leaders, including the late Thomas Sankara in Burkina Faso, who promoted grassroots democracy and criticised those who had overstayed in power. “Today, he is one of the African leaders being criticised for overstaying in power, reneging on his promise.”

Dr Lwaitama said Mr Museveni’s dictatorial inclination risked cancelling out all the good things he had done for Uganda and Africa since when he was a member of the University of Dar es Salaam’s University Students African Revolutionary Front (USARF). Speaking after being sworn in, President Museveni extolled the achievements of his National Resistance Movement (NRM) on the economy, education, roads and delivery of social services.

Kenya’s Moi, Kibaki Jet in for Swearing-in Fete

Richard Wanambwa

12 May 2011

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and his predecessor, Daniel arap Moi, were by last evening among some of the dignitaries who had arrived for President Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony.

Others are Saharawian leader Mohamed Abdelaziz, South Sudan leader Salva Kiir, Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh and Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.

However, the number of actual guests by press time was not established as top government ministers were not forthcoming with information regarding the event.

No information

Minister for Presidency Beatrice Wabudeya referred this newspaper to her Information counterpart, Kabakumba Masiko, who doubles as spokesperson of the event, but the latter told Daily Monitor that she had been attending meetings and was not aware of the facts.

She promised to verify and get back to Daily Monitor but when this paper got back to her before press time, she could not answer our repeated calls.

But sources within the security establishment who requested for anonymity because they do not speak for government, confirmed the above guests as having arrived but added that more were to jet in this morning.

Daily Monitor could not access Entebbe International Airport as is the norm to photograph arrivals of different dignitaries. Government on Tuesday limited visitors to the airport citing security reasons for guests and a threat posed by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) supporters who were to receive their party leader as he was expected to return from Nairobi Hospital.

In both Nairobi and Harare, government websites carried statements from both State Houses indicating that Presidents Kenya’s president Mwai Kibaki and Robert Mugabe of Zimbawe and Zimbabwe, respectively, were to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

“President Mwai Kibaki will Wednesday (yesterday) travel to Kampala, Uganda to attend the swearing-in and inauguration ceremony of the President-elect of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni … on Thursday 12th May, 2011,” the Nairobi statement reads.

Tripartite meeting

The statement further said the plane carrying the President and his entourage was expected to depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before 4.00p.m…and during his trip President Kibaki is expected to attend a tripartite meeting of the leaders of Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

While the Zimbabwean statement read: “President Robert Mugabe is expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at Kololo Independence Ground in Kampala tomorrow.”

The government had invited 32 heads of state for the occasion but Foreign Affairs State Minister in-charge of International Affairs, Okello Oryem, said on Tuesday that at least seven heads of state and representatives from 19 countries had confirmed.

On Eve of Museveni Inauguration, Human Rights Situation Grave
11 May 2011

As Uganda prepares to inaugurate Yoweri Museveni, its president of twenty-five years, to yet another term tomorrow, the human rights situation in Uganda grows increasingly grave. The revival of the odious anti-homosexual bill and the recent brutal crackdown on civilians, journalists and political opposition have further eroded political rights and civil liberties in a country that already lacks genuine political competition, according to Freedom House.

At least ten people have been killed and hundreds injured in Uganda as security forces have responded to widespread protests against rising food and fuel prices with tear gas and live ammunition. Opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who has been arrested four times since the protests began, was barred from a flight to Uganda today as he attempted to return from Kenya where he had received medical treatment for injuries stemming from his April 28 arrest. According to the airline, he has been issued a ticket to return to Uganda this evening. Also yesterday, Democratic Party leader Norbert Mao and others were drenched by authorities in an unknown pink fluid and subsequently arrested while attempting to demonstrate.

“The deteriorating situation in Uganda in recent weeks is deplorable.

With the harsh crackdown on media and political opposition, violent attempts to prevent citizens from exercising their legitimate right to speak out about injustices, and the resurgence of dangerous anti-homosexual legislation, the rights of Ugandans are being squeezed from every direction,” said Paula Schriefer, Freedom House director of advocacy.”Tomorrow’s inauguration of a leader who has shown increasingly authoritarian tendencies will undoubtedly lead to more demonstrations and we call on Ugandan authorities to respect the fundamental rights of its citizens to express views peacefully without interference.”

It has been reported that President Yoweri Museveni is considering a new law to deny bail for six months to those arrested while protesting.

Journalists have been prohibited from entering hospitals and other areas where the major clashes are taking place, preventing an accurate count on those dead and injured.

Uganda was also recently criticized for prosecuting critical journalists under accusations such as treason or spreading false news, and a joint freedom of expression mission last September found that violence against journalists and impunity issues severely challenged the space for free expression.

Additionally, a bill that received global condemnation for provisions that criminalize homosexuality and mandate the death penalty may reportedly come before Uganda’s parliament for a vote on Friday.

Although recent reports suggest the death penalty clause may have been removed, the bill remains problematic.

“The passage of the anti-homosexual legislation will have devastating consequences not only for Uganda’s LGBTI community, but for the country’s reputation as a rights respecting country around the world,” continued Schriefer. “It simply shocks the conscience that such a blatantly discriminatory and vicious piece of legislation could even be considered, let alone adopted, in the 21st century.”

USA & East Africa: Health in East Africa / Rotary and Aga Khan University launch strategic partnership to improve maternal and child health in East Africa

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PRESS RELEASE

New scholarships for nursing students, professional development for educators

EVANSTON, Illinois, Improved maternal and child health in East Africa is the goal of a new strategic partnership between the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, a global humanitarian service organization, and Aga Khan University (AKU), a private, non-denominational university promoting human development through research, teaching and community service.

Logo Rotary International: www.apo-mail.org/Rotary-International.jpg

Logo Aga Khan University : http://www.apo-mail.org/Aga-Khan-University.gif

Under the partnership, the Rotary Foundation – the charitable arm of Rotary International — will provide grants to Rotary clubs to establish volunteer teams to support the professional development of nursing faculty at AKU’s East Africa campuses in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The teams will work with local Rotary clubs and AKU to carry out community service projects linking the classroom lessons to existing clinics and health care programs. Rotary grants will also fund nursing and midwifery scholarships for students admitted to AKU’s Advanced Nursing Studies (ANS) program. Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to be mentored through the program by local Rotary clubs.

The Aga Khan University’s ANS program was established in response to requests from East African governments to help upgrade nursing skills and build healthcare human resource capacity in the region. Through continuing education programs, graduates are able to work in their communities to provide better quality health care services as well as lead policy development at the national level. The result is better qualified regional healthcare professionals who are helping to build accessible, responsive and sustainable healthcare systems in East Africa.

“Our Rotary clubs in East Africa are eager to partner with the top-notch professionals at Aga Khan University to help ensure that mothers and their infants receive the best health care possible,” says Samuel F. Owori, of Kampala, Uganda, a member of the Rotary International Board of Directors. “This partnership represents an immense contribution to the health and well-being of families throughout our region.”

“This partnership will enable a greater number of qualified students from poor communities to benefit from our programs.” states AKU President Firoz Rasul. “Partnerships such as this one build much needed capacity in the developing world, but more importantly, they enable innovation and the creation of knowledge to address local health problems.”

Rotary Foundation Chair Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar adds that the partnership “is an important step toward meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health.”

The UN Millennium Goals call for a 75 percent reduction in maternal deaths — and a two thirds reduction in the death rate of children under age five — by 2015.

The UN says developing countries account for 99 percent of the more than 350,000 women who die each year from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. In sub-Saharan Africa, a woman’s risk of maternal death is 1 in 30, compared to 1 in 5,600 in developed countries. The same region records the highest childhood mortality rates, with one in seven dying before their fifth birthday. Worldwide, more than 9 million children under 5 die each year.

Aga Khan University operates in eight countries across East Africa, the Middle East, South and Central Asia and Europe (www.aku.edu ). The University’s curricula in nursing, medicine and educational development reflect the unique needs of the communities and countries where it operates, so that students and graduates can immediately apply their knowledge where it will have the most impact. Through a needs-blind admissions policy AKU selects the most promising students who will become leaders and thinkers in the region; cultivating in them an ethic of service and the skills to help communities improve their quality of life.

AKU is one of nine agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), a group of private development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotary members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary clubs have been serving communities worldwide for more than a century.

The Rotary Foundation, under its new Future Vision plan, seeks to forge strategic partnerships with established organizations with expertise in any of Rotary’s six areas of focus: peace and conflict prevention/resolution; disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and economic and community development. The foundation grants support major international projects with sustainable, high impact outcomes.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Rotary International

CONTACT: Wayne Hearn (847) 866-3386 wayne.hearn@rotary.org

Sandra Pruefer, +41 44-387-7116, sandra.pruefer@rotary.org

Eunice Mwangi, +245 20 3662170, eunice.mwangi@aku.edu

For more information, visit www.rotary.org. For visual materials go to: http://rotary.org/mediacenter

Uganda: Can AU and EAC stop Museveni from brutalizing Ugandans?

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Commentary By Leo Odera Omolo

Five presidents whose countries have jointly established one of the most vibrant economic bloc in the African continent, namely the East African Community are scared stiff of making their stand known on the current political situation in the neighboring Uganda?

It is not a laughing matter when the military soldiers are deployed in streets to brutalize and violently dispersing peaceful and unarmed the citizens from demonstrating against the sky-rocketing prices of essential land basic commodities.

The way and the manner in which protesting in Ugandans are treated is totally a mockery to the tenets of democratic principles.

The opposition Leader Col.Dr Kiiza Basingye was on Wednesday stopped while driving into town by heavily armed men who looked like military police. They used their steel pistols but in smashing his car’s windscreens on both sides of the vehicle and lobbed tear gas canisters into the car. A this was not enough, they splashed his face with looked like acids.

On two previous arrests, Dr Basingye was shot in his right arm by a trigger-happy policeman who got away with the heinous act scot free. The third arrests were even more brutal because the liquid substance flashed in his face appeared to have affected his eyesight. Surely was this excessive force necessary in arresting an unarmed person?

Why are the AU and EAC leaders keeping quiet as Uganda is slowly drifting back to the rule of the gun? So far none of the four presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi has commented on what is gong in Uganda. Where are their usually vocals so called government spokesmen. Why are they burry8ng their heads in sands in the face of brutal militarist colleague in Uganda?

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has re-introduced the rule of the gun in Uganda. It is something which the citizens of that beautiful African country had long forgotten – – ever since the former despotic ruler in the name of Field Marshall Lt Gen Idi Amin Dada was sent packing by a combined forces of Tanzania regulars and Ugandan exile forces. That was the justified liberation war which Museveni himself was one of those brave Ugandans who had sacrificed their time and energy to accomplish.

The removal of Idi Amin from power in Uganda was not a joking game, but a very expensive exercise which counted for the loss of hundreds of young Tanzanian and Uganda soldiers. As admitted in later years by the late President Julius Nyerere it had a long term bearing on Tanzanian economy. All these sacrifices were not in vain but were meant for the search of freedom and liberty of Ugandans.

What Ugandans are protesting abut is the unaffordable prices of basic commodities. Similar protests have taken part in the neighboring Nairobi, but accounted for no human loss of life.

Museveni must be advised to respect the sanctity of human blood. He should his soldiers back to barracks and leave the job of dispersing the protesters to the police. But if has soldiers in excess who are idle, then he should consider the possibility of dispatching more troops to go the troubled Horn of Africa country {Somalia} to supplement the work of the UNMAR peacekeeping instead of deploying them where they are savagely brutalizing Ugandan citizens.

I happened to be in Kampala last Monday and Tuesday and I even witnessed three soldiers kicking a pregnant woman hard at the back and in her stomach as she pleaded with them to be left alone in vain. I am sure for certain that woman did not survive unscathed, but might have suffered abortion.

For more than two decades since he came to power after protracted time in the bush, forces of Gen Tito Okello who had seized power after overthrowing Obote Two administration, President Museveni has been in the forefront among the new generation of African leaders who are armed with university degree and who the ordinary citizens expect a lot to come from in their salvation. But what we are witnessing now is in the opposite.

The Presidents of four other African countries which are member of the East African Community must come out in the open and register their strongest objection to the rule of gun in Uganda.

There is no point in keeping silence and yet things are not all that is well in Uganda. Kenya in particular must speak out. Uganda is Kenya’s best f not leading economic partner, and both the two principals in the coalition government must com out in the open and tell Museveni that what he is doing in Uganda des not augur well for the larger Eastern African region and the EAC in particular and its development partners abroad.

Museveni recently conducted and concluded much flawed general elections in which member of the Uganda Peoples Defense force {UPDF} were the returning officer and polls clerks at the various polling booths, and despite of the protests by the combined opposition parties against this unbecoming practices nobody else registered his or her voice from within the EAC partner states. Both AU and EAC member states accepted the outcome of Ugandan elections on face value and totally ignore the dissenting views coming from the internal opposition groups.

The time is ripe for both the AU an the EAC to consider the possibility of establishing a blueprint for mechanism for conflicts control and resolution in member states in order to put belligerent African leaders to a constant check of their excesses.

It is arguably that Museveni has restored the sanity in Ugandan politics, but he has been there for too long and should now vacate the political scene in that country before it is too late.

The Ugandans need a break and a breathing space from his draconian rule. Level minded regional leaders like Presidents Mwai Kibaki of Kenya Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania must come to the rescue of brutalized Ugandans who are losing their precious lives at the hands of Ugandans soldiers and speak loudly against the primitive rule of the gun.

The African Union must not only be used as talking shop and toothless bulldog when things are gong from bad to worse in the member countries.

Otherwise the history will judge the current EAC and AU leaders harshly for standing a loaf while one of their colleague is committing atrocities against human race in the neighborhood.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo,com

EAC is suggesting plan to create equity on staff hiring and other policy changes

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

The East African Community is currently suggesting a plan that will create equality in the distribution of integration benefits, opportunities and organs.

This is meant to stem tension created by recent jostling over the position and hosting of regional bodies that in the past led to deep disagreement among partner states.

Except for the position of the Secretary General who is deputized by four officials from each partner states and is rotational by an Act of the EAC Treaty, other position no clear representation criteria creating what in some corners has been perceived as unequal.

The region has commissioned a study on equity and distribution of benefits such as employment that is expected to be reviewed at the 22nd ordinary Council of ministers meeting slated for Arusha next week.

In addition, each partner state has been asked to identify five centers of excellence which will elevated to the status of EAC organs, and used to foster regional pursuits. Among those identified in Kenya are Starehe Boys Center, and the Maritime College.

The developments stem from realization that the East African Community has outgrown its original structure and now requiring for urgent review to reflect the current developments.

A recent press statement from the Arusha based EAC secretariat indicates that many citizens are not aware of the benefits of integration due to luck of documentation. Although the study is yet to be made public, top on the benefits distribution is rotating the succession of senior officials, on a limited term on that basis. This will widen the list of key posts that should be rotated among the five partner states other than of the Secretary General and is four deputies.”

The Council of Ministers, the policy making organ of the community, has resolved that the position of heads of institutions should be held by nationals of the partner states “strictly on rotation basis,” the statement said. The announcement has also been made with increasing signs that the partner states were jostling to have their nationals take charge of key posts in Arusha-based secretariat and in other programs derailing smooth operations.

The former Secretary General Ambassador Juma Voster Mwapachu before his departure from the community services last week when he was replaced by the Rwandan Health Minister Richard Sezibera had told the staff during various meetings that lack human resources department at the secretariat was to blame for the jostling, but even where the law is clear, certain developments lead to heated arguments.

A case in point is that of Mr Mwapachu who exited from the community service last week, and whose succession has been subjected to his profile exchange based on who between Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi succeed Mwapachu who stepped down last week.

Under the new guidelines, a partner state whose candidate is appointed head or deputy head of a community institutions shall not at the end of the contract period, be eligible to apply for the position.

Other reports emerging from Arusha says there I a stand off is looming at the EAC secretariat following the East African legislative Assembly MPs recent refusal to approve the USD 3.48 million meant to speed up negotiation for Economic Partnership Agreement{EPA with the European Union.

At the 23rd extraordinary meeting of the EAC’S Council of Minster’s meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda a fortnight ago, the Council was reported to have petition the East African Legislative Assembly {EALA} MPs to allow the use of the funds donated by the Swedish International Development Agency {SIDA} for the EPA talks.

The stand off has been simmering since last December when the community asked for the funds under supplementary budget, but the request was turned down on the ground that using donor money for the EPA talks would erode the bloc’s independence and lead to the region yielding to the demands of the EU.

Last Tuesday, a report was tabled before the house by the Council requesting EALA to reconsider its decision and unlock the funds to jumpstart the stalled talks.

EALA Speaker Abdulrahin Abdi confirmed the House had received the report and had requested time to study it and response and that it would be debated at the May session.

Part from the concerns the donor funds would weaken the region’s bargaining position. EALA has raised the questions about the benefits of the EPA, saying they would open the local markets import for international goods, killing off fragile local industries, especially in agriculture.

Speaker Abdi said the entire House supported the decision, and needs to be convinced that the EPAs will not leave the region’s economy under siege from cheap imports.

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EAC summit expressed concerns about the Political Federation as concerns mount abut democratic credential of some partner states.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

The planned political federation of Eastern African countries might be delayed owing to different application of democracy in some member states.

The fears and subsection surfaced this week at the end of the two days ninth extra-ordinary summit of head of states meeting in Dar Es Salaam.

Leaders in the fine East African nations in a stalled regional bloc admitted to broad concerns over the union with Uganda’s current unrest and a monetary union among the sticking points.

The presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi met in Dar Es Salaam on Tuesday to review the status of the East African Community, a regional economic and trade union similar to ones elsewhere in Africa.

The leaders said in a final statement, that the team tasked with finding out what their cities thought about the bloc had “identified fears, concerns and challenges. ”The statement, however, did not elaborate but simply said the team would draw up “concrete proposals on how to address th9se fears, concerns and challenges” before the next summit scheduled for November in Burundi.

A political federation would necessarily mean that members lose some degree of sovereignty and some diplomats worry that constitutional reform, in several countries, notably in Kenya, is complicating moves towards integration.

There are also concerns about the democratic credentials of some of the partners such as Uganda, said Tanzanian opposition leader and top economist Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has n recent weeks clamped down on opposition protests tarnishing his democratic image. He has been in the forefront championing the formation of an East African Political Federation with one president, one single currency and shared mineral and other resources. Prof. Lipumba said, ”Our countries should first be democratized adding; “A leader who does not respect the constitution of hid country will not respect the constitution of the East Africa political federation.”

Those back tracking the political federation had set the year 2015 as the deadline for the birth of the much highlighted political federation of East African countries, though experts and political pundits have expressed doubt about the plans viability and political goodwill.

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EAC get the new Secretary General from Rwandaand other far reaching change in its secretariat

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

Top Rwandan government official was on Tuesday picked up by the five heads of state meeting in Dar Es Salaam as the new Secretary General of the East African Community.

In attendance were Presidents Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Pierre Nkurunzinza oif Burundi and ther Ministers responsible for the East African Community Affairs.

The summit which was attended by all five presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi also made some far reaching changes in the administration of the regional body.

The Rwanda Minister for Health Dr Richard Seribera, a Makerere University trained surgeon now takes over from the previous holder of the office Ambassad0r Juma V. Mwapachu a Tanzanian whose tenure of five years terms expired early this month.

This appointment now brings to an end heated discussions and exchange of bitter word between the members states which had threatened to disrupt development and regional integration.

Dr Seribera was picked up during the ninth extra-ordinary summit of the Heads of State summit held in Dar Es Salaam from 17 to 18 April 2011.

Also appointed during the summit was Enos Bukuku who will now be the EAC Deputy Secretary General in-charge of the Infrastructure and Planning. He replaced Aloys Mutabingwa of Rwanda.

Dr Bukuku has been serving as one of the deputies at the Bank of Tanzania in-charge of economic and financial policy. He is a former Permanent Secretary I the Tanzanian Ministry of State for Planning and Privatization

The new Secretary General is expected to spearhead negotiation to the establishment of the EAC Monetary Union. Kenya’s Justice Isaac Leonola is the new presiding Judge of the Arusha based East African Court of Justice. The Kenya High Court Judge had played a leading role in the search for the new set of the country’s constitution when he was named a commissioner in the Constitution of Kenya Review that Prof.Yash Ghai chaired.

Justice Leonola is currently the chair person of the Kenya Mag9strates and Judges Association. The newly appointed team was immediately sworn in on Tuesday afternoon.

The next move by the regional body would now shift to the next pillars of the EAC, the Monetary Union and political Federation.

The new Secretary General s expected to spearhead negotiation for the establishment of the Monetary Union whose proposals are already under discussion. The Monetary Union is expected to establish a single EAC currency which has been slated to be in place by next year.

However, top economists in the region have questioned the ambitious target, citing the European Union experience where currencies were merged after several years of intense debate. How the region will achieve the proposed union now lies with the new CEO.

The new Secretary General will also have an uphill task of oversee the movement of the EAC toward a political federation by 2015, which some analysts have expressed doubt about its viability.

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Tanzania: Africa’s most important forum investors conference open in Dar Es Salaam

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

About 400 delegates from are gathering in Dar Es Salaam this week for a two days debate key issues facing the investment sector in Africa.

Dar hoped to use this opportunity to woo more foreign capital by hosting a forum for African investors anticipating more foreign direct investment as economies rebound globally.

The 9th African Investment {AIE}, which opened today and will close on Tuesday 19th April,2011.It is being organized by the Commonwealth Business Council in collaboration with the East African Community.

One of the key issues will be how to attract investments into EAC and to tackle challenges faced. The decisions made at the Dar meeting are likely to shape trade investment in the region.

President Jakaya Kikwete said in his opening address that the meeting will also focus on promoting linkages between African economic clusters to attract new investment.”We will be pleased to welcome investors with a long term interests in Tanzania and the EAC,” said the President in a message to the conference.

Kikwete will tomorrow host fellow Presidents Pierre Nkurunzinbza of Burundi, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya,Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for the 9th African Investment round table whose main focus will be on doing business in East African Community.

Other issues include; accelerating East African investment, business in the EAC, enhancing regional investment and trade in the COMESA-EAC- SADC tripartite, public-private partnership for infrastructure development on energy, transport, communications, housing and construction.

Dr. Mohan Kaul the Director General of the Commonwealth Business Council {CBC} the organizer of the event ,said the forum provides a platform to bring investors and projects together to showcase new opportunities, enhance African trade and investment and to build business partnerships.

Dr Kaul said USD one billion worth of projects was up for discussion at the same forum last year in Ghana where more than 200 business meeting were held with 10 memorandum of understanding signed.

Another official of the CBC said the forum will feature a project portfolio of investment proposals that need funding, equity or business partnership in the region. The Dar meeting is expected to provide potential investors an opportunity to establish strong partnership and explore investment opportunities in key sectors such as ICT, financial services, tourism, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing and environment.

“Summaries on potential projects will also be available in advance to interested investors and partners, and project holders will be available for on-to-one meetings,” said the official.

The project will be organized according to their countries of origins and sectors they fall under .Each project will have its business plans and investment requirements and technical knowledge needed.

Apart from investment opportunities, other issues to be discussed include the opportunities for East African business improving access to finance capital markets banking and financial services, agribusiness and food security and natural resources and mining. This year Forum will be held along the Summit of the EAC Head of States involving high level dialogue on investment with EAC heads of state.

The forum, which kicks off on Sunday, comes at a time when Tanzania is looking for strategies to increase its FDI to over USD 700 million.

In 2009, the FDI dropped markedly from USD 679 million the year before as a result of the global cash crunch.

Tanzania’s economy depends mainly on tourism, mining and agriculture. And its communications, energy, manufacturing, financial services and transport and attracting rising investor interest.

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Tanzania and Uganda plans a multi billion dollars new transport corridor from Tanga to Kampala

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

PLANS are in advance state for the two Eastern African nations of Tanzania and Uganda to establish a multi billion dollars joint venture to develop a new railway line and ports on Lake Victoria to cope up with increased trade from the East African hinterland.

It is moderately estimated that the plan would cost close to USD 2.7 billion.And it will involve the construction of the new 800 kilometers long railway line that will link a proposed deep water port at Mwambani Bay in Tanga and ends up in Arusha nearly 400 kilometers away from Lake Victoria and a new extension will be needed to link it up with the port of Musoma about 400 kilometers to the west.

Te rail line will link up with the port of Musoma with onward connection to Port Bell in Kampala and Juba in South Sudan.

The extension is expected to pass through the world famous Serengeti National Game Park, something which the environmentalists, conservationists had vehemently opposed to arguing that with noisy trains passing through the wild animal sanctuary something which would not augur well. This is what had caused the plan being shelved during the reign of the late President Julius Kambarage Nyerere when the idea was first muted in the late 1980s.

The officials of the two countries have said the project is provisionally estimated to cost USD 2.7 billion, out of which USD 1.9 billion is for the construction of the railway line, USD 672.6 million for the development of Mwambani Port and USD 72. Million for the development of Musoma dock.

In a well researched article appearing in its business page, the EASTAFRICAN weekly quoted the Tanzanian Minister for Transport Omar Nundu as saying that the partnership plan includes rehabilitation and upgrading of the Port Bell pier and the construction of a new Kampala inland port in Uganda.

The Minister further explained that the plan will also see Tanga and Musoma ports dedicated to handling cargo destined for Uganda and Southern Sudan.

The cost of transporting goods in the region could reduce significantly in the next five years as another EAC partner Kenya too plans a new railway connecting the port of Mombasa to Kampala.

In the joint venture, Tanzania and Uganda are seeking USD 250 million fresh capitals to upgrade a separate jointly owned 100 year old imperial gauge rail line built during the colonial era.

A 25 year concessional deal signed in 2006 with Rift Valley Railway {RVR} consortium has so far failed to revamp the ailing railway network. This consortium is made up of o South African Sheltam Trade, Mirambo Holdings and Primefuesl Ltd. Others partners include Kenyan private equity firm Trans-Century and two other investors- Kenya’s Centum Investment Ltd and Babcock and Brown of Australia. And last week Trans-Century disclosed it plans to inject USD 300 million into RVR.

The funds to be disbursed in the next five years will be spent on modernizing the Kenya-Uganda Railway in which the private equity firm holds a principle interest of 34 per cent.

“The transport division is focused on the turnaround of the Rift Valley Railway and recapitalization of the railway line,” said Trans-0Century CEO Gachao Kiuna.

While cargo volume at the Kenyan port of Mombasa has grown to over 19 million tones as at the end of last year from seven million in 1980s, volume transported by RVR have declined from 4.8 tones to 1.5 million tones in the same period.

The proposed new railway will be an important link between ports in Kenya and Tanzania and the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.

According to information attributed to Tanzanian Transport Minister Omar Nundu, rehabilitation of wagon ferries and building of a new ship to service Lake Victoria are also among projects stipulated in the joint plan.

President Museveni of Uganda has repeatedly said that the Musoma was “lifeline” of the Uganda of his dreams, adding that freight will be conveyed from Musoma dock by ferry to Port Bell pier – about 350 kilometers inside Uganda. A rail connection runs via Tororo to Gulu – nearly 600 kilometers on the Pakwach branch. North Gulu, a new line of roughly 250 kilometers will have to be constructed to Juba, and a further 550 kilometers to the Wau railhead in Southern Sudan.

The proposals arise from the continued difficulties with getting freight from the port of Mombasa to Uganda, and to Southern Sudan.

The cost of Kenyan route are said to be prohibitive and there are serious delays. The Dar Es Salaam port has its own logistics problems too. Figures made available shows the Dar Es Salaam dock accounts for only one per cent of all trade from Uganda with 99 per cent passing through the Kenyan port o Mombasa.

However, the Ugandan business community is of the opinion that Dar and Kampala will have to make some concessions to promote the route.

“To start with, Dar Es Salaam need to talks with Kampala not to charge tax freight when we use the Central Corridor. This will be a good enticement” says Busingye Rwabogo, the Mukwano Industries operations general manager.

With a rated capacity for 4.1 million tones of dry cargo,6 million tones of bulk liquids, 3.1 tones of general cargo and a million cargo of containerized traffic, the port of Dar Es Salaam is said to be severely stretched.

Dar Port handles about 95 per cent f Tanzania’s international trade in addition to serving neighboring landlocked countries of Malawi, Zambia,Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo {DRC}.Development at the port of Tanga with current annual handling of 500,000 tons will reduce the load on Dar Es Salaam port meaningfully.

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EU & EAST AFRICA: KSHS 3.6 BILLION FOR FISHERIES ALONG LAKE VICTORIA REGION.

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By Agwanda Jowi

European Union has disbursed over three million Euros (Sh. 3.6 billion) for the management of fisheries along Lake Victoria region in a four year project that will benefit East Africa countries.

The funds are part of the 30 million Euros disbursed by European Union under 9th European development fund aiming at strengthening fisheries management in Africa Caribbean Pacific countries.

The project funded under, ACP 2 aims at improving fisheries management in the ACP countries so as to ensure that fisheries resources occurring in the waters within the jurisdiction of these countries are sustainable exploited.

ACP 2 regional manager Koanne Mindjibika says during a workshop with stakeholders in Kisumu that the programme that will tackle over 32 regional and national fisheries projects will lead to alleviation of poverty and improved fish security within the East Africa region.

The regional manager says that the East Africa region project will be implemented under five components both targeting improvement of fisheries.

Kenya assistant director of fisheries Michael Obadha says the first phase of the project will cost over 1 million Euro and second phase due to start in November this year will cost over 2.3 million Euros.

Obadha says so far over 40 beach management unit have benefited from the programme in terms of training and 280 more will under go a similar training as the projects get underway.

He says that the ACP2 will address the gains in the ACP1 and introduce new aspects that were not addressed in the first component of the programme.

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East Africa: Top EAC official to brainstorm in Arusha on the regional integration agendas

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo

TOP officials of the East African Community will be meeting in the coming weeks to set the bloc’s agenda for the next two decades, and review the growing investment interests in the region.

The meeting is slated for March 17-18 will take place at the Arusha International Conference Centre {AICC}.This will be the second meeting of its kind where the scholars and researchers, civil society, business community and development partners will meet to explore Vision 2020 for the East African Community.

The symposium is now an annual event in the EAC bloc’s calendar. And the outgoing Secretary General of the EAC Ambassador Juma V Mwapachu told the newsmen earlier this week that the officials will be drawn from the experiences of other economic blocs to set the agenda.

“The symposium is expected to articulate the broad features, set scenarios, propose benchmarks and a critical path towards deepening East African integration,” It will also propose follow up measures to cause wide awareness and participation in EAC integration and development,” Mwapachu said.

The Secretary General’s five years terms come to an end next month, and the five member states of the EAC, namely Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi will have to make an appointment for the next chief executive of the community.

The Arusha meeting comes in the background of growing interest in EAC integration from investors, governments and development partners.

European countries previously expressed misgiving at the rapid pace of EAC’s integration, but have now started establishing diplomatic ties with Arusha. The European Commission, Turkey, the Netherlands and Denmark have posted representatives while others have started negotiating. These latest development are turning the northern Tanzanian City into a diplomatic zone.

Soren Pind, the Danish Minister for International Cooperation, was quoted recently as saying,” These countries share a common trading interest and have shown strong political will to move the integration agenda forward.”

Within ten years, the EAC has launched both the Customs Union and the Common Market and is in the process of setting the stage for the roll-out the Monetary Union, ultimately, political federation in 2015, It took the EU close to 40 years to established a Customs Union, which the EAC did in five years.

Meanwhile Kenya has come up with a new plan to push through the reforms needed in EAC integration.

The plan, contain in a Rapid Result Initiative launched recently consists of five key points that could market the country as EAC’s most attractive investment destination.

Kenya has also launched a fresh program to enhance awareness among its citizens of the opportunities that come with integration. The first phase of the implementation which began on February 24, will be conducted over 100 days. Officials from the Ministry of East African Community Affairs will visit 24 counties our of the 47 countrywide selected randomly across the country to familiarize local people with the integration process

“ We have come to realize that most Kenyans know little about the EAC, its benefits and the business opportunities they can exploit in the region. This strategy will help us create awareness”. said the Permanent Secretary the EAC Ministry Affairs David Nalo.

Kenya’s export of professional services to other East African states is expected to increase by large margins, under the Common Market, which came into force in July last year, the World Bank notes.

Sharper market intelligence and improved networking should help Kenya ride on the wave of increased demand for professional services in the 127-million-people economy and a combined GDP of USD 73 billion that is also tipped to attract foreign investors.

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KENYA SPEAKER IS RIGHT SAYS EAST AFRICA LAW BOSS.

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By Agwanda Saye.

The East Africa Law Society has hailed the ruling by Speaker Kenneth Marende over the controversial appointments saying the speaker has affirmed his oath of office.

The EA Law Society Vice President James Mwamu addressing the press in Kisumu says the ruling by the speaker was a true reflection of what majority of Kenyans wanted and urged speaker not to relent on upholding the rule of law.

Mwamu says lawyers in the country are happy with the ruling and called on the two principals to consult on the appointments so as to speed up the reforms in the country.

In his ruling, Marende says the process that saw four appointments were unconstitutional, gender biased and without involvement of the judiciary service commission as required by law.

Mwamu says Marende has respected the sovereignty of the country by saying various stakeholders should be sought.

He urged the president to embrace the spirit of national accord when carrying out appointments and not to use parliament as a place where he fights his own battle.

Mwamu says the move was in accordance with the Constitution, and has thus avoided a political showdown between allies of the Principal.

Ends.

Kenya: Museveni is suspected to be the influential force behind EAC political woes

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisaumu City.

As the scramble for the most lucrative position in the East African Community intensified, two outspoken Kenyan MPs have come out full blast against their government ambition to see its man at the helm of the EAC hot seat in Arusha.

The two legislators want their country to give up its quest for the position f the Secretary General of the EAC in favor if either Rwanda or Burundi,

Dr Bonny Khalwale {Ikolomani} and Duncan Mungatana {Garsen} told newsmen in Nairobi this week that Kenya’s quest for the position was threatening the unity of the East African Community.

According to the EAC Treaty, this position is supposed to be rotational. And now that the current holder Ambassador Dr Juma V. Mwapachu is expected to retire from his five year tenure of office, Dr Mwapachu is a Tanzanian and his position is supposed to be filled on a rotational basis.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have filled this position ever since the community was reborn in 1999.

As far as the matter stands, it would be expected that Rwanda or Burundi would be the next in line. However, Kenya has been reported in the recent past as saying that it has really never occupied the seat substantively and now wants the chance to do so.

The two Kenyan MPs accused two unnamed top government officials of allegedly pushing President Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odingato back Kenya’s quest for the seat, which is scheduled to fall vacant in April this year.

The two legislators said that some senior government official in Nairobi recently travelled to Uganda with the intention to lobby and convince President Museeni to help Kenya realize its quest for the seat.

“It is sad that the government has gone so desperately to lobbying for the support of the Ugandan leader to help Kenya illegal quest for the seat,” said Dr Khalwale.

On his part Mungatana who is also the Secretary General of the Martha Karua led Narc-Kenya party which had pulled out of the PNU amalgamation of parties expressed the fears that the future of the united community was under a serious threat following Kenyans “selfish” interests in the seat.

“We have to leave it for Rwanda or Burundi, because Kenya as a senior member of the EAC that its chance and now it is time for others.”

At the same time Rwanda and Burundi insist that it is their turn to produce a candidate for the post which falls vacant in April. However, Kenya insists it has not served the full five year term in the past.

The position is currently held by Ambassador Mwapachu a Tanzanian, while his predecessor Nuwe Amanya Mushega was from Uganda. Bu before Mushega, Kenya’s Francis Muthaura had served as the executive secretary at the secretariat of the Commission for the East African Co-operation from 1996 to 2001.

Muthaura who is now the Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Kenyan Cabinet becomes the first Secretary General after the EAC Treaty came into force in 1999 and the new set of the EAC established in July 2000.

Rwanda and Burundi are the latest entrants into the EAC and are the only two countries that have not produced a secretary general.

Mungatana cautioned that the open campaign for Museveni’s re-election in Uganda by a number of senior Kenyan politicians was a breach of the international relations and could jeopardize Kenya’s business relationship with Uganda if Museveni lost the election.

The most intriguing question that emerges is; Why the position of the Secretary General of EAC, which would not ordinarily be an issue that would raise heads because Arusha’s marginal influence in the regional political capital, is now a political hot-button issue?

Political pundits and observers are now beginning to connect the dots to the succession politics at the national and regional level as we near 2017 when four of the five current presidents will be retiring from power, and the incumbent post-Kibaki head of state will be seeking re-election.

At a regional level, President Museveni is said to be the influential force behind Kenya’s desire to get its own national picked to take over Dr Mwapachu’s job. President Museveni once publicly declared that he wants to be the first president of an EAC political federation, which is mooted around 2017or thereabouts.

According to observers, consolidating Museveni’s then three decade rule into a regional – or even pan-Africa –elder statesman status would be an enticing retirement package.

This according to an article published by the EASTAFRICAN weekly especially if it would also coincide with a time when Uganda would have been pumping oil out if its Lake Albert basin for at least five years, meaning that he could back his desire to be a regional hegemony with growing petrodollars treasure.

Museveni profile in Arusha would transform its political profile, where it would start exerting some influence in member’s capitals.

The reports says in parts that if Kenya succeeds in getting one of its own to succeed Mwapachu in Arusha, it would serve Museveni’s ambitions better by providing a predictable ally who would spearhead the most difficult transformation of the EAC into a Monetary Union with a single currency and a political federation with a popularly elected leader.

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Kenya: Nyatike constituency is on the move and may soon realize the fastest development activities

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Karungu Bay, Migori County.

One of the recently created administrative districts, in greater southern Nyanza, which is currently on the move, is Nyatike.

Laying in the far end of the former greater Southern Nyanza and bordering Tanzania on the land and Uganda in Lake Victoria, Nyatike, is an area which is previously considered as the most backward in the region. It has had its own parliamentary constituency for the last 16 years ever since its separation from Ndhiwa in 1992.

In the first multi-party election, in 1992, Tobias Ocholla Ogur won the seat for the first time on a Ford Kenya party ticket. The party was then led by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Ogur, however, quickly made an about turn and crossed the floor back to the ruling KANU, and lost in the seat in the consequent by-election.

The NDP and then LDP supported and fronted the late Tom Onyango a petty kiosk trader in Migori town who carried the day.

The NDP and later LDP had swept the board clinching all the parliamentary and civic seats in Southern Nyanza.

In the general election of 1997, Ocholla Ogur bounced back and recaptured the seat of the defunct LDP party led by Raila Odinga. He successfully defended his seat in 2002, but performed dismally in the 2007 general election, and was beaten hands down by the youthful Edick Omondi Anyanga who appeared to have turned the previously sleeping constituency around.

Nyatike district previously had two administrative divisions, namely Karungu-Sori and Maclder. But it has now five division comprising of Got Kocholla, Kaler and Muhuru Bay Divisions. The area has a full pledged DC, DO I and district officers manning all the five divisions plus district heads of departments and all the government offices are functioning well.

Today Nyatike provide electricity supplies to all primary and secondary schools, market places and all the institutions. The area has the best rural feeder and access roads to the envious of other neighboring constituencies. This is perhaps because of the abrasive youthful and aggressive MP who has kept members of the local CDF committee on its toe.

On the education front, Nyatike beat all the other primary schools in the entire Migori County in last year CPE exam coming on top. This is due to the competitive nature of teaching initiated by the MP who is reported to be dishing out special gifts to teachers who performed well. The prizes include new suits, bicycles and other gifts. Earlier last year the MP had requested for teaching experts from other parts of the country who went to Nyatike for the purpose of carrying out refresher course for teachers through seminars and workshops.

Fishing and fish trade is the main economic mainstay in the constituency, which borders Tanzania on other main land and also a small portion on the Lake Victoria and Uganda in Lake Victoria. The disputed Migingo fishing island is believed by Kenyans to be part of Nyatike district, though Uganda had seized and posted its marine police to man the island to the chagrin of the local residents, who sees the government of Kenya for having failed them and abandoned them in the hand of hostile foreign occupying force.

The MP who is known to his peers as Omuk Lela {Rhino} has persistently demanded both in the August house and outside parliament that the Uganda security personnel said to be harassing about 500 Kenyan fishermen operating on the Migingo Island be driven out, and always scathingly criticized the government for its handling of the Migingo saga.

The shortage of fresh water for life will soon be over in Nyatike. Plans are under way for a major water project to be taken u by the UNICEF that will see the water piped from Lake Victoria and spread into the villages in Sori, Obware Secondary School and other nearby villages.

The water supplies will go beyond the constituency boundary and even benefit the residents of the neighboring Ndhiwa district. The residents are also said to be Liaoning with tourist operators in Nairobi with the view to ensure plans are earmarked for tourists to visit attractive tourist points in the region.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

EAC: Partner states signed an agreement to avoid double taxation

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

POTENTIAL investors in the East African Community trading bloc may now have a good reason to smile, thanks to the partner states agreement to avoid double taxation.

The five EAC member countries have signed an agreement to avoid double taxation seeking to boost investment flow in the region.

The pact stipulates that investors operating in two or more EAC countries will only pay in one jurisdiction.

The Secretary General of the EAC Ambassador Juma V. Mwapachu was quoted last week by the influential EASTAFRICAN weekly as saying that he was optimistic that the move will attract more investors into trading bloc, which has a GDP of USD 80 billion and a population of 133 million people to make a vibrant common market.

He said the EAC partner states of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi entered into double taxation deal partly in order to attract investors by mitigating the taxation effects or investment capital.

The EAC Heads of states hailed the pact during their recent one day summit held at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania and said the agreement will boost intra-EAC trade.

The ambitious agreement had earlier been concluded and signed by the 21st session of the Council of Ministers held in Arusha.

A prominent tax expert said that double taxation occurs when two different countries levy a similar tax on the same transaction or income.

Double taxation has been blacklisted as the most notorious stumbling block threatening intra-EAC-trade in the region.

The bloc’s intra-trade at the moment stands at 13 per cent of the total trade volume, against the 87 per cent of business quantity that gives to the outside world. In the European Union for example, intra-trade accounts for 60 per cent of the total trade,while trade within the North America Free Trade Area accounts for 48 per cent of the total trade of its member states.

Trade specialist attached to the East African Business Council {EABC} Mr Adrian Njau was last week quoted as saying that the intra-EAC-trade is sure-way of creating jobs, spurring production and investment flows and raising more taxes, the key aspects for any economic growth.

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EAC: Tension and discontent over the selection of the next Secretary General of the organization

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Tension and discontent is reportedly building up at the EAC secretariat based in Arusha as the impending exit of the current Secretary General Ambassador Juma V. Mwapachu’s five years terms comes to an end next April.

Member countries are Kenyta, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burndiu. Kenya, Tanzania and Ugaanda are the founder member states and senior most, while Rwanda and Burundi joined the block the other day.

Mwapachu is a Tanzanian and he has held the rotating top job for the last five years and he is being credited for having initiated some far-reaching socio-economic projects in the region.

According, to the Treaty establishing the body, the position of the Secretary General has to come from a different member state after the end five year tenure of office.

The vacancy, expected to be created by the impending retirement of Mwapachu, according to observers in Arusha, is dividing the region, between Rwanda and Burundi on the one hand and Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania on the other.

Sources, familiar with Rwanda President Paul Kagame’s thinking, say that the new entrants into the EAC view as “unfortunate and divisive” the argument being advanced by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda that it is not yet time for a Rwandan or a Burundian to lead the EAC -0stensiboy because the new member countries are “too young.”

Political pundits says that it has not helped that the jostling for the position is being viewed in Kugali and Bujumbura in the light of the warming political ties between Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The latter joined the Ugandan head of state on the campaign trail three weeks ago.

Hither to, the relations between the two had been sour, as the result of the Ugandan government refusal to hand back, to Kenyan administration, the disputed controversial Migingo fishing island in Lake Victoria, which Nairobi consider as its part and parcel.

Uganda has retained a contingent of armed marine police on the island despite, an earlier agreement that each country pull out its security personnel, and also pull own its national flag, while negotiations over the islands right ownership is being sought.

Pundits were last two quick in making intelligent guesswork that perhaps Kenya wants the top EAC job given what transpired between Museveni and Raila in Uganda. People were left guessing as to what Raila Odinga was up to in Uganda where he joined Museveni in his election campaign trail in Eastern part of the country.

The post falls vacant in April, after the incumbent a Tanzanian steps down. Pundits were however arguing that, ”you cannot have a membership organization where rights are granted on basis of seniority – – even though when it comes to paying contributions, everyone pays the same”, a source said of President Kagame’s feeling about the developments around the EAC’s secretary general position.

Information emerging from Kigali says Rwanda is making no secret of the fat that it is interested in putting forward a candidate to vie for the post when it falls vacant in April after the incumbent, Mr Mwapachu, a Tanzanian steps down on rotation. If this issue is not sorted out amicably, observers say it could kill “the community in the popular imagination “if the public thinks that Rwanda and Burundi are being shoved aside.

According to an article appearing in the influential weekly, the EASTAFRICAN, Rwanda’s Minister for EAC Affairs Monique Mukaruliza was quoted as sayting the country was ready for the seat.

“Under the existing traditional rotational arrangement, it is supposed to be Rwanda and Burundi’s turns to take over she said in another article published by the New Times.” We shall agree with the Burundi who comes first because we all joined the EAC bloc at the same time. But if Burundi agrees, we shall occupy the chair,” the Minister added.

The Minister argued that the principle of the EAC Treaty for the establishment of the organization is clear about the occupancy of the post of the secretary general.

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