President
Yoweri Museveni shakes hands with the Deputy Clerk of EALA, Alex Obatre
as Executives of the EAC and Parliament of Uganda look on
H.E.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni signs the visitors book at the Parliament of
Uganda as the EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Daniel F. Kidega looks on
H.E. President Museveni stresses a point at the Special Sitting. On right is the EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega.
EAST African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, August 24, 2015: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Friday addressed the 1st of the 4th Session of 3rd Assembly at the Parliament of Uganda in Kampala.
In
his address, the President termed prosperity and security of the region
as two key ingredients necessary to keep integration process on track.
He urged the EAC to support prosperity of the producers in the
agricultural sector to support integration.
“Prosperity
is about services, markets and it is important to leverage and take
advantage of the market”, H.E. Museveni said. The President maintained
that it was time for the region to consolidate on the gains realised in
the region
The
President said that Uganda was key to export its agricultural products
in the EAC region including sugar products. “Uganda is today producing
more sugar than it needs. Following the discussions with H.E. President
Uhuru Kenyatta recently, we have agreed to open the market for this
products further”, he said.
The President maintained that Uganda was similarly open to receiving goods from Kenya under the integration arrangement. President
Museveni said Kenyan exports to Uganda are estimated at $700 million up
from $200 million in 1986 compared to imports worth $150 million up
from $12 million in the same period.
He
thanked President Kenyatta for agreeing to remove non-tariff barriers,
deepen commercial ties and widen the regional market. President Museveni
remarked that Uganda produces about 465,000 tonnes of sugar annually
against a consumption of 320,000 tonnes, leaving it with a 145,000-tonne
surplus.
He
called on the EAC bloc to negotiate together with other blocs in the
globe. “We have a reasonable market now and we can effectively compete.
Let us negotiate with China and other big players”, he said.
The
President called on Partner States to add value to production in order
to enjoy competitiveness. “The Federal Republic of Ethiopia which has a
population of 90 Million people, today assembles its automobile
industries and this has led to creation of employment of over 160,000
jobs for the locals. Automobile assemblage can reduce costs by 57%,”
he said.
President
Museveni said he submitted proposals to the Summit of EAC Heads of
State to explore the possibility of local assemblage of vehicles. “We
need to create jobs, transfer technology for the region to be
prosperous”, President Museveni told the attentive audience.
The
President maintained that the EAC was on course and its progress
irreversible. The President noted that the Community was on the verge of
prosperous economic development and better quality of life for its
citizens following the significant progress in a number of
socio-economic and political spheres.
The
Head of State hailed the forefathers of EAC for their visionary
leadership. “I hail President Moi and Mwinyi who together with myself
resurrected integration after seeing the benefits. I am grateful to them
and we have since moved together, making tremendous progress” he added.
He
lauded EALA for initiating the EAC Creative and Cultural Industries
Bill saying it gave citizens such as performing artists to advantage of
integration and to widen their markets.
On
Security, the Head of State said that strategic security was key. “We
must put our interests fast and secure ourselves from those who want to
dominate us, he said, adding that it was time for challenges such as
NTBs to be weeded out once and for all.
He
said Uganda was mapping strategies to be a first world country in the
next 20 years and thus deemed it necessary to fight for its competitive
space. ‘Even if these were to happen, the question is how secure would
Uganda be by itself?The President paused.
The
Head of State said the region was opening up and clearing up strategic
bottlenecks to be more prosperous. He said the market fragmentation was
now been consolidated.
He however cited the challenges of insecurity faced in Burundi, South Sudan and Congo and said solutions were necessary.
H.E.
Museveni said a better infrastructure was now been realized and said
the region was on the way to deepening economic integration. The
President gave a nod to EALA Speaker’s request on modalities to
streamline assent of Bills during the meeting of the EAC Heads of
State.
“The
principle of jointly signing (assent) of Bills when we sit as Summit is
a good idea if we can finalise on the modalities”, H.E. Museveni said.
The Head of State remarked that what the region now needed was to
strengthen competitiveness, address costs doing business and reduce
risks.
In
attendance were key government officials led by the Prime Minister of
the Republic of Uganda, Rt Hon Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, EALA and Parliament
of Uganda Members and representatives of the diplomatic corp among
others.
In
his welcome remarks, the Speaker of the EALA, Rt. Hon Daniel F. Kidega
noted that the Sitting was taking place at an irreversible time in the
regional integration process. He called on the Summit of EAC Heads of
State to hasten the process of the Monetary Union and inevitably the
Political Federation. He told President Museveni and the Summit of the
EAC Heads of State to revisit the issue of the fast-tracking the
Political Federation
“This will enable us to be stronger and more united for without the Political Union, we shall remain vulnerable to world forces,”
Rt. Hon Kidega noted.The EALA Speaker noted that the Assembly had made
progress since December 2014 and cited some of the milestones realized.
“Since
I took over the Speakership of the Assembly in December 2014, the
Assembly has passed a total of 6 Bills, 5 Resolutions, adopted 12
Reports and asked the Council of Ministers to respond to sets of
questions deemed vital to strengthening the EAC.
We
have also received 2 petitions from the youth and the regional Workers’
Union and the employer association. Both petitions are currently under
review by the relevant Committees of EALA. Our representative function
has continued to be felt through engagements with different stakeholders
even though this is an area we need to further strengthen”, he said.
The Assembly which commenced business on August 16th,
2015 has debated and adopted two key Committee Reports; one on
investment Strategies in the region and another on the Legal Framework
and implementation policies on the rights of Children. It has also
commenced on debate on the EAC Cultural and Creative Industries Bill,
2015.
The
Speaker cited challenges facing the Assembly as that concerning the
Assent of Bills stating that it was necessary to speed up the
processes.“Whilst it is purely in order for Heads of State to receive
briefs, before assenting to Bills, the logistical mode of having to move
from one Partner State to another in itself present challenges.
We
are of the view that the region takes advantage of the Summit sittings
which can create opportune moment for the Summit Members to exercise
their mandate as stipulated under Article 63. Your Excellency, we shall
seek your further advice on this matter” Speaker Kidega said.
The
Speaker also called on the stakeholders to ensure electioneering in the
region does not disrupt nation building.“Unpatriotic politicians and
citizens the Speaker noted, can stir emotions leading to disruption in
society, erosion of investor confidence and lull in economic programmes,
Speaker Kidega said. He urged stakeholders in the Partner States to
reverse the trend.
There
are undeniably some positive democratic milestones that we can be proud
of as a region. There are also grave mistakes that we have made and that
we must steer clear of in future. We appeal to all actors concerned
with elections as a matter of necessity to ensure citizens’ enjoy their
fundamental political and civil liberties, promote a culture of peace
and tolerance and insulate electoral management bodies from undue
pressures.
In this way, we stand to secure the future of our region for posterity, the regional Assembly Speaker stated. Moving the vote of thanks, Hon Saoli Ole Nkanae noted that Uganda had progressed following the leadership of President Museveni.
“I
have followed your history closely. Came from humble beginnings. In
the short span, he has transformed country from sectarian dictatorship
that was non-performing to an economic country with opportunities for
all”, Hon Nkanae said.
“Your
role in resurrecting the EAC Community is laudable and we note that you
have continued to fast-track integration and offer good leadership”,
the legislator said.
Hon Nkanae said that EALA was committed to actively playing its mandate to strengthen integration.
