Geza Ulole
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- Oct 31, 2009
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EAC summit to decide fate of stalled infrastructure projects
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 21 2017
Kenya’s standard gauge railway is meant to ease transport in the EAC. The SGR is expected to link Mombasa to Kampala, Kigali and Bujumbura. PHOTO FILE | NMG
In Summary
With relations between partner states such as Uganda and Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda unstable, there is little progress that can be made, observers say.Key among the disputes is the decision by Uganda to abandon Kenya as a route for its oil pipeline and go for Tanzania, while Kigali accuses Kampala of frustrating its plans to connect to the SGR by opting for South Sudan instead of Rwanda.
EDMUND KAGIRE
More by this Author
The East African Community Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for December 1 in Kampala, Uganda, will determine the fate of regional infrastructure projects as disputes between partner states threaten to derail their progress.
With relations between partner states such as Uganda and Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda unstable, there is little progress that can be made, observers say.
Key projects that have been affected are the standard gauge railway (SGR) linking Mombasa to Kampala, Kigali and Bujumbura, the Power Pool project enabling countries to import electricity from Ethiopia and the oil pipelines.
Observers say the disputes could deal a heavy blow to regional integration plans.
Rwandan Minister in charge of EAC Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe said there has been slow progress on joint infrastructure projects, but maintains that partner states remain committed to regional integration.
“We will be meeting in Kampala to discuss the prevailing issues and find a solution. The Heads of State Summit will also discuss the issue of mismanagement of the Secretariat, which has affected remittance of contributions from member states,” said Mr Nduhungirehe.
He said concerns about misuse of resources at the EAC secretariat have partly compounded the issues dogging the regional bloc.
Efforts to get a comment from Kamugisha Kazaura, Director of Infrastructure at the EAC proved futile as questions went unanswered.
Mr Nduhungirehe said the summit will also discuss existing non-tariff barriers in EAC partner states.
Key among the disputes is the decision by Uganda to abandon Kenya as a route for its oil pipeline and go for Tanzania, while Kigali accuses Kampala of frustrating its plans to connect to the SGR by opting for South Sudan instead of Rwanda.
SGR to Juba
Kigali had expressed concern over Kampala’s decision to extend the SGR to Juba and the delay in extending power lines to the border, which would allow Rwanda to connect to the Power Pool.
Until now, there has been no formal response by either side on the concerns but officials say the issues will be discussed in Kampala.
Brian Cooksey, a political researcher, said politics rather than economics is driving multibillion dollar investments in new ports and railways.
“Political relations between EAC elite strongly influence which infrastructure projects are implemented,” said Mr Cooksey, adding “There is little or no effective co-ordination of transport policy in the EAC.”
Mr Cooksey said the success of mega-projects largely depend on the relations and friendships between the countries, which makes their implementation unpredictable.
Fate of stalled EAC infrastructure projects
MY TAKE
Even with the 2nd launch for East African pipeline in Hoima, still Kenya has not accepted the loss
! Probably a reason why Museveni is abandoning Kenya's SGR to punish that greed. Didn't know the construction of the Malaba to Kampala section stalled!
Museveni is a very fair guy teaching Kenya a lesson that they can't have all for themselves Juba is his brain child n Kenya has to choose either Juba-Kampala then Malaba or losing Uganda n Rwanda if Kenya choose to bypass Uganda n connect to Juba alone.
Meanwhile Magufuli keeps buying wagons carriage ships for Port Bell-Mwanza connection after signing a deal for a railway revamp btn Port Bell to Kampala n after Germany's Kfz gave funds for a modern port at Port Bell
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 21 2017
Kenya’s standard gauge railway is meant to ease transport in the EAC. The SGR is expected to link Mombasa to Kampala, Kigali and Bujumbura. PHOTO FILE | NMG
In Summary
With relations between partner states such as Uganda and Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda unstable, there is little progress that can be made, observers say.Key among the disputes is the decision by Uganda to abandon Kenya as a route for its oil pipeline and go for Tanzania, while Kigali accuses Kampala of frustrating its plans to connect to the SGR by opting for South Sudan instead of Rwanda.
EDMUND KAGIRE
More by this Author
The East African Community Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for December 1 in Kampala, Uganda, will determine the fate of regional infrastructure projects as disputes between partner states threaten to derail their progress.
With relations between partner states such as Uganda and Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda unstable, there is little progress that can be made, observers say.
Key projects that have been affected are the standard gauge railway (SGR) linking Mombasa to Kampala, Kigali and Bujumbura, the Power Pool project enabling countries to import electricity from Ethiopia and the oil pipelines.
Observers say the disputes could deal a heavy blow to regional integration plans.
Rwandan Minister in charge of EAC Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe said there has been slow progress on joint infrastructure projects, but maintains that partner states remain committed to regional integration.
“We will be meeting in Kampala to discuss the prevailing issues and find a solution. The Heads of State Summit will also discuss the issue of mismanagement of the Secretariat, which has affected remittance of contributions from member states,” said Mr Nduhungirehe.
He said concerns about misuse of resources at the EAC secretariat have partly compounded the issues dogging the regional bloc.
Efforts to get a comment from Kamugisha Kazaura, Director of Infrastructure at the EAC proved futile as questions went unanswered.
Mr Nduhungirehe said the summit will also discuss existing non-tariff barriers in EAC partner states.
Key among the disputes is the decision by Uganda to abandon Kenya as a route for its oil pipeline and go for Tanzania, while Kigali accuses Kampala of frustrating its plans to connect to the SGR by opting for South Sudan instead of Rwanda.
SGR to Juba
Kigali had expressed concern over Kampala’s decision to extend the SGR to Juba and the delay in extending power lines to the border, which would allow Rwanda to connect to the Power Pool.
Until now, there has been no formal response by either side on the concerns but officials say the issues will be discussed in Kampala.
Brian Cooksey, a political researcher, said politics rather than economics is driving multibillion dollar investments in new ports and railways.
“Political relations between EAC elite strongly influence which infrastructure projects are implemented,” said Mr Cooksey, adding “There is little or no effective co-ordination of transport policy in the EAC.”
Mr Cooksey said the success of mega-projects largely depend on the relations and friendships between the countries, which makes their implementation unpredictable.
Fate of stalled EAC infrastructure projects
MY TAKE
Even with the 2nd launch for East African pipeline in Hoima, still Kenya has not accepted the loss
! Probably a reason why Museveni is abandoning Kenya's SGR to punish that greed. Didn't know the construction of the Malaba to Kampala section stalled! Museveni is a very fair guy teaching Kenya a lesson that they can't have all for themselves Juba is his brain child n Kenya has to choose either Juba-Kampala then Malaba or losing Uganda n Rwanda if Kenya choose to bypass Uganda n connect to Juba alone.
Meanwhile Magufuli keeps buying wagons carriage ships for Port Bell-Mwanza connection after signing a deal for a railway revamp btn Port Bell to Kampala n after Germany's Kfz gave funds for a modern port at Port Bell
