Referendum on EAC political federation set for next year, says Amb. Sezibera

[msemakweli]

Dr Richard Sezibera

The East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Dr. Richard Sezibera has called upon Ugandans to support the regional integration process because with it will come economic prosperity.

Dr. Sezibera yesterday (Thursday) held a regional EAC awareness event during which he addressed residents and traders of Nakiwogo market in Entebbe municipality. He also participated in the community cleaning up exercise of Nakiwogo market.

Speaking in near-flawless Luganda dialect, Sezibera ( who studied in Ugannda) said, "As East Africa, we have everything we need to be wealth when we are together. But because we are apart, we don't add value to our products such as coffee.

Integration will give us this strength. We want Ugandan traders to be able to trade in Nairobi, and Kenyans to do likewise in Uganda; or Ugandans to attain education in Burundi."

Juma Mukasa, the youth councilor for Entebbe municipality asked residents to embrace the regional cooperation with other EAC member states which would come with benefits such as improved security as well as economic prosperity.

Sezibera was joined in the cleanup by several officials from Entebbe municipality as well as officials from the German Development Agency (GIZ), East African Business Council and East African Civil Society Organization.

Other activities included voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing which was conducted with the Entebbe municipal council's health department.

He said that EAC regional governments would next year embark on a consultation process to ask their citizens about the political federation. "I want you to tell them that you support one nation. And with your support, we shall be happy," said Sezibera.

Responding to residents' questions on the existing differences in the constitutions of the EAC member states on the issue of presidential term limits, Dr. Sezibera said that citizens should present their views on term limits in the upcoming consultation process.

He dispelled concerns that the regional integration process was slow, saying that EAC was only revived 14 years ago. "Within 14 years, we have reached far, with a customs union, one-stop border posts whcih start this year, a common market, uniform university fees, and the monetary union protocol," said Dr. Sezibera.

Jessica Eriyo, the deputy secretary general in charge of productive and social sectors challenged Ugandans to participate in the integration process because of the many accruing benefits that allow freedom of movement of people, labour and services.

"We should mix and be free, but we are also saying that it should be people-centred and private sector-led," said Eriyo.

Source: newvision

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/659671-dr-sezibera-woos-ugandans-to-support-integration.html

 

[msemakweli]

Ha! I found this in the comments section;

"It is always worthwhile to aspire for the general good but I think genuine East African federation only exists in the minds of about twelve people.
What are the chances peaceful and productive Kenyans and Tanzanians would be enthusiastic about a political union with volatile Uganda? Chaos is us, it is embedded in our DNA, so why, for crying out loud, would anyone in, say,Tanga or Mbeya in Tanzania vote to be led/ruled by a chap from Nakapiripirit or Nyabushozi or Zirobwe?
Generally, we vote for people we know, trust and understand (well, we try to). Why change that? Why broaden and burden an imperfect and corrupt system with other complex set-ups? Let us clean up our broken systems instead of suffocating us with unworkable theories.
If East African politicians think political integration of diverse systems is smooth and a drive to instant economic, political and social development/prosperity, they should look at the European turmoil where small nations like Greece integrated with the likes of Germany and France.


Hata Waganda wanajua.....hili shirikisho la EA ni la kutiliwa mashaka sana......tread carefully TZ!

 

[MK254]

Hizi ni ndoto za uongo, jameni sisi tubaki na Kenya yetu na matatizo yetu. Tuwe na miungano ya kibiashara na miradi lakini vinginevyo kila mtu abaki na mahangaiko yake.
Miungano huwa sio kazi rahisi, hebu ona utata uliopo kati ya Tanganyika na Zanzibar, kabisa sitaki hili.

 

[jMali]

Hizi ni ndoto za uongo, jameni sisi tubaki na Kenya yetu na matatizo yetu. Tuwe na miungano ya kibiashara na miradi lakini vinginevyo kila mtu abaki na mahangaiko yake.
Miungano huwa sio kazi rahisi, hebu ona utata uliopo kati ya Tanganyika na Zanzibar, kabisa sitaki hili.

i agree with you 100%