Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda to draft constitution
Tanzania left out of new fast-tracking effort
President Museveni has taken a big step towards fast tracking the federation of East Africa by appointing Gen Aronda Nyakairima to head a committee that will draft a constitution.
During the tri-lateral meetings between Museveni, Kenyas Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwandas Paul Kagame in June and August in which ambitious infrastructure developments were mooted, the Ugandan leader was tasked to spearhead railway development and fast tracking the federation.
On his part, Kenyatta was assigned to spearhead electricity generation and distribution, as well as oil pipeline development. Kagame, on the other hand, was tasked with issues of customs, a single tourist visa, and an East African Community e-identity card.
The three leaders are to meet every two months to review progress, and that is why they met again in Mombasa last month, having met in Kampala in June. The next meeting is due in Kigali in October.
However, what has raised eyebrows is that this framework leaves out other members, Tanzania and Burundi, although the latter was represented in Mombasa. When Museveni was asked in June why Tanzania and Burundi were not represented in discussions about East Africa, he said they would be briefed.
Reliable sources have now told The Observer that Museveni wrote to his minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Nyakairima, on August 14, informing him that he had been selected to head the committee to fast-track the federation following consultations with Kenyatta and Kagame.
I appointed you, after my agreement with their excellencies Paul Kagame and Uhuru Kenyatta, to chair the committee for the fast-tracking of the East African Federation, Museni reportedly wrote
Tanzania left out of new fast-tracking effort
President Museveni has taken a big step towards fast tracking the federation of East Africa by appointing Gen Aronda Nyakairima to head a committee that will draft a constitution.
During the tri-lateral meetings between Museveni, Kenyas Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwandas Paul Kagame in June and August in which ambitious infrastructure developments were mooted, the Ugandan leader was tasked to spearhead railway development and fast tracking the federation.
On his part, Kenyatta was assigned to spearhead electricity generation and distribution, as well as oil pipeline development. Kagame, on the other hand, was tasked with issues of customs, a single tourist visa, and an East African Community e-identity card.
The three leaders are to meet every two months to review progress, and that is why they met again in Mombasa last month, having met in Kampala in June. The next meeting is due in Kigali in October.
However, what has raised eyebrows is that this framework leaves out other members, Tanzania and Burundi, although the latter was represented in Mombasa. When Museveni was asked in June why Tanzania and Burundi were not represented in discussions about East Africa, he said they would be briefed.
Reliable sources have now told The Observer that Museveni wrote to his minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Nyakairima, on August 14, informing him that he had been selected to head the committee to fast-track the federation following consultations with Kenyatta and Kagame.
I appointed you, after my agreement with their excellencies Paul Kagame and Uhuru Kenyatta, to chair the committee for the fast-tracking of the East African Federation, Museni reportedly wrote