Posted in Press Release
All is set for the 4th EAC University students’ debate scheduled to take place on 18-19th December 2015 at the International University of East Africa in Kampala, Uganda. The debate is expected to bring together representation from University students, lecturers, academia, policy makers, media, youth leaders and high school students within the region.
The EAC University Students’ Debate Model is an interactive and representational style of debating aimed at educating, discussing and making resolutions among the Youth in East African to nurture a bond of “eastafricaness” with a distinct East African identity that is very much desired. The objective of the EAC University students’ Debate Model is to exchange information, share ideas and recognise a common ground among the students and youth in the bloc.
Apart from ascertaining the analytical skills of debaters; encouraging research among the debaters about the EAC integration process; as well as encouraging diplomatic policy formulation among the debaters; the EAC University students’ debate aims at discovering leadership talent and appoint Youth Ambassadors to champion the integration process.
The EAC University Students’ Debate emphasises on the use of the value and policy approaches given that the EAC Integration is people-centered and Private Sector driven, hence giving the youth an opportunity to come up with policies that will enable the Secretariat develop programs and initiatives aimed at empowering youth in the region.
The debate will comprise of two teams; Affirmative Team made up of Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Amicus Curiae and the Counsel to the Community, and the second team will be the Alternative Strategy Team comprising of the Attorneys General from each Partner State. This has been set as the correct position for this form of dialogue to avoid the word “opposition” used in the context in which it is always perceived.
Each team will comprise of 5 debaters drawn from the five Partner States making 10 debaters from the two teams. Prof. Dr Sandy Stevens Tickodri Tagaboa, Uganda’s State Minister in charge of Higher Education, Science and Technology is expected to officiate at the official opening. Others expected are Prof. Olubayi Olubayi, Vice Chancellor, International University of East Africa; Prof. Alexandre Lyambabaje, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council of East Africa, and Mr Charles Njoroge, the EAC Deputy Secretary-General (Political Federation). A gala dinner and award ceremony to be officiated by Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera, Secretary-General, accompanied by the VC – IUEA, State Minister in charge of Higher Education and the Speaker of EALA will crown the 4th EAC University Students’ debate on Saturday 19th December 2015.
The youth of East Africa are important stakeholder in the EAC processes and form substantial part of the population. Article 120(c) of the EAC Treaty provides for adoption of a common approach for involvement of the youth in the integration process through education, training and mainstreaming youth issues into EAC policies, programmes and projects as one of the strategic interventions towards the realisation of a fully integrated Community.
Posted in Press Release
In a bid to promote stronger cross border interactions and community engagements, the EAC Secretariat, in collaboration with East Africa Local Governments Association (EALGA), the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the German International Development Agency (GIZ) organised a fun-filled sports and cultural festival at Cyanika town on the border of the Republics of Rwanda and Uganda over the weekend.
Following up on the recommendations of the 21st Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning meeting in October 2014, which recommended that the activities in the concept note to declare 2015 as the year of the “East African Citizen” be implemented as sensitisation programmes; the Festival aimed at engaging ordinary citizens of the EAC Partner States about the privileges available to them, as well as providing a platform on which they can meet, share, have fun and interact as one community under the EAC.
Bringing together over 1,300 festival-goers, the town of Cyanika was painted in an array of sports, including football, volleyball and cycling, cultural expressions and artistry from Uganda and Rwanda. The Festival was graced by Mr Sam Byibeshyo, the Lord Mayor of Kisoro town, Uganda and Mr Samuel Sembagare, the Lord Mayor of Burera district-Northern Provence, Rwanda. Other attendees included government officials from the district regional offices in Kisoro, Uganda and Burera, Rwanda, police and immigration officers from the local border authorities, women and young traders.
“This is an exciting step forward for the Community in getting East Africans more engaged in the integration process”, said Mr Owora Richard Othieno, EAC’s Principal Information and Public Relations Officer. “We hope that after today, other border communities will initiate similar activities at their border points”, he said.
The year of the East African Citizen is in line with the EAC Consultative Dialogue Framework which ensures continuous dialogue between the EAC Secretariat, Organs and Institutions, Local governments Civil Society Organisations, Private Sector Organisations and other interest groups both at the national and regional level.
The Consultative Dialogue Framework is aimed at ensuring that the integration process proceeds with the involvement of the citizens of EAC Partner States and is undertaken in the context of multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Speaking at the Festival, Mr Byibeshyo expressed his gratitude to the EAC Secretariat and local governments for bringing together citizens from Uganda and Rwanda to work together and promote integration, adding that, “we will continue to support the journey that the EAC has started, and I call upon every East African to join hands and fight whatever obstacles that hinder the integration of East Africa”.
In concurrence with the Ugandan Mayor, Mr Sembagare, emphasised on the importance of East Africans to take ownership of the integration process and, “use the opportunities availed by the Common Market and the Single Customs regimes to enhance good neighbourliness and community development”.