Press Release

Youth in region has potential and are capable of designing a new look for the Community - says Rwanda Official

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 07 June 2017:

An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs of the Republic of Rwanda has commended the EAC Secretariat for implementing the Council decision on involving the Youth in the region to develop a new EAC Brand Architecture.

Speaking during the sensitization of and launch of the design competition for a new EAC emblem and logo in the Republic of Rwanda, held at the College of Arts and Social Sciences of the University of Rwanda, Huye (Butare) Campus on Wednesday 7th June 2017, the Ag. Director General of EAC Integration at the Ministry, Ms. Flavia Salafina, said the youths in region had potential and were capable of designing a new look for the Community.

Ms. Flavia Salafina, who was representing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs, Ms. Rosemary Mbabazi, commended the Principal of the College, Dr. Didas Muganga Kayihura and the Dean of Students, Mr. Fabian Rugiriza for hosting the event at a busy time when the students were taking their exams.

She allayed the EAC Secretariat’s fears that in the event that none of the entries/proposals were accepted by the Secretariat and the Partner States, there shall be no winner and the Secretariat may seek designs via other procurement methods, saying “I want to assure the Secretariat that the youth in the region, including those in Rwanda, will be up to the challenge and do the job!”

She challenged the Graphic Arts students to work hard and ensure they make entries to the competition and win the prizes. “You will do the Community and Rwanda in particular proud if you propose the best new look for the EAC”, said the Ag. Director General.

The Dean of Students, Mr. Fabian Rugiriza was proud that the University of Rwanda was chosen to host the event and was affirmative that the Design Arts students at the College will take part and win prizes.

“Our students designed the logo for the University, so expect entries from them.” “Your coming to this University shows how passionate the Community is in regard to engaging the youth in regional integration process. By involving them in the design of the emblem and logos, they will now associate more with the integration agenda and the EAC”, said the Dean.

Guidelines for participating in the EAC Brand Architecture Design Competition is available on www.eac.int. The Competition period is from 1st June 2017 to 31st August 2017.


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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, 

PS challenges EAC youth to look for opportunities instead of waiting on Governments to fix things

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 05 June 2017:

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry to the Office of the President Responsible for East African Community Affairs in the Republic of Burundi, Amb. Jean Rigi launched the design competition for the new EAC emblem and logo in the Republic of Burundi on Friday 2nd June 2017.

Addressing design arts students at the Ecole Technique des Arts de Gitega, Amb. Rigi, who was representing his Minister, Hon. Isabelle Ndahayo, said the sensitization and launch of the competition in the Partner States fits perfectly well into the regional aspiration of creating space for the citizens, and especially the youth development in the integration agenda.

The Permanent Secretary informed the attentive students and invited guests that the launch of the competition was taking place just after two weeks when a pupil from Lycee Mkamba received an award at the regional level in the East African Community Essay Writing Competition for students in Secondary Schools. “This Burundian student was very lucky to have met and shook the hands of the Heads of State at their 18th Ordinary Summit that took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania”. “And therefore this regional competition is a golden opportunity offered to the youth for them to participate in the regional integration agenda”.

Amb. Rigi noted that the youth was the future of the East African Community and therefore it was necessary to ensure their active and effective representation in the society as well as in the national and regional development agenda. “I challenge the youth to develop their knowledge and potential and look for opportunities instead of waiting on the Governments to fix things”, asserted the Permanent Secretary.

The Permanent Secretary wished the youth in East Africa successful competition in a bid to create a new Brand for the EAC Organs and Institutions, “which will inevitably set the East African Community and its population on the road to a new, brighter and prosperous future”.

The Director of the Ecole Technique des Arts de Gitega, Mr. Clement Nzosaba, disclosed that the Arts School was gearing to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in October 2017 and that it had 842 alumni. And therefore “I was not surprised that this School was chosen to host this very important sensitization workshop on and launch of the design for the new look of the EAC”, noted the Director of the School, whose motto is Art, Culture and Harmony.

The Supervisor of Education in Gitega Province, Father Vincent Bandeba was among the invited guests to witness the launch of the competition.

The 24th meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning held on 30th June 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, considered and adopted the EAC Brand Architecture Strategy and directed the EAC Secretariat to use the Youth in the region to develop the new EAC Brand Architecture.

The EAC Brand Architecture Strategy proposes several activities that include re-designing a new EAC emblem and logo, developing a common unique identifier for all Organs and Institutions; developing one primary (main) EAC corporate colour and one secondary colour; and developing a single visual identity emblem for the Community.

There are several gaps that have been identified in the current EAC brand architecture, which the design competition is expected to address.

Guidelines for participating in the EAC Brand Architecture Design Competition is available on www.eac.int. The Competition period is from 1st June 2017 to 31st August 2017.


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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

EAC is on the right track - Secretary General

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 05 June 2017:

The East African Community has recorded significant achievements with a number of protocols being signed and Non-Tariff Barriers to trade being eliminated.

EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, however, said that there was still room for the Partner States to do more so that East Africans can reap the full benefits of integration.

Amb. Mfumukeko was speaking when he met a delegation of Norwegian envoys to the EAC including Ms Hanne-Marie Kaarstad (Norway's Ambassador to Tanzania), Mr Victor Rønneberg (Kenya) and Ms Susan Eckey (Uganda) on Monday, 5th June, at the EAC headquarters, in Arusha, Tanzania.

Amb. Mfumukeko briefed the Ambassadors on the priority areas that he intends to pursue in the next five years, including the: Consolidation of the EAC Single Customs Territory; free movement of skilled labour in the region; enhancement of industrial development through investment in priority sectors; promotion of innovations to stimulate economic development; improvement of agricultural productivity, and; the promotion of regional peace, security and good governance.

The Secretary General further briefed the Norwegian envoys on the ongoing administrative and institutional reforms aimed at cutting down costs and reducing wastage of funds in Community's expenditure.

On her part, Amb. Kaarstad commended the EAC Secretariat for the good work that has led to the attainment of several achievements, and assured the Secretary General of her country's commitment to continue supporting the integration process.

Accompanying the EAC Secretary General at the meeting were EAC Deputy Secretaries General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge, Productive and Social Sector, Mr. Christophe Bazivamo, Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Stephen Mlote, and the Director General Customs and Trade, Mr Kenneth Bagamuhunda.


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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

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East African Community
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Tel: +255 (0)27 216 2100
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Email: eac@eachq.org