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The Federal Republic of Germany and the East African Community (EAC) have successfully concluded bilateral negotiations on development co-operation at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Federal Republic of Germany committed a total of 37 million euros in grants to the EAC for 2016-2018, highlighting the strong commitment to support the integration process in East Africa.
- 10 million euros in financial assistance will be invested in the establishment of a regional network of reference laboratories for communicable diseases. With this project, the German Government responds to a request for support from the EAC for the prevention and control of epidemic outbreaks in the region.
- Another 10 million euros in financial assistance will be used for Integrated Water Resource Management of Lake Victoria aiming at improving water provision and management of water resources.
- 17 million euros in technical assistance were committed to further support of the economic integration process, including a contribution to the EAC partnership fund. The programme is focussing on institutional strengthening of the EAC Secretariat and on supporting the implementation of the Customs Union, Common Market Protocols and Monetary Union. This includes the elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers such as tax harmonisation as well as Mutual Recognition Agreements for qualifications. At the same time, Germany will support the EAC in promoting private investment especially in the pharmaceutical sector, including the establishment of a regional quality infrastructure for the pharmaceutical sector.
Speaking during the negotiations, the EAC Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr Liberat Mfumukeko, thanked the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for its support to the EAC spanning the years since the re-establishment of the co-operation between the three founding EAC Partner States to the present, when the Community has expanded to include the republics of Rwanda and Burundi.
“We have truly benefited from the German support, which has catalysed other development partners to support our projects and programmes. In addition, Germany has given the EAC a permanent home by financing the construction of the new Headquarters that today houses the Secretariat, the Court and the Assembly under one roof, thus greatly easing the EAC Organs interactions and communication”, said Mr Mfumukeko.
He highlighted the successes achieved through German support in the realisation of the fully-fledged Customs Union, the Common Market, and the commitments to support the realisation of the Monetary Union in the succeeding programme.
The EAC Deputy Secretary-General noted that the development of the East African Monitoring System within the current support had resulted in a robust means of follow up of the implementation of Council and Summit directives. He further enumerated the priorities of the EAC-German co-operation for the next years.
Mr Georg Rademacher, Head of the German delegation, said: “Our support underlines the importance we give to the East African Community. The EAC is a role model and pace-setter in Africa and we are proud of working closely with you in order to contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the citizens of this region”.
He underlined that Germany is also supporting substantial regional infrastructure projects with promotional loans of the German development bank, KfW.
Only last week, Ambassador Kochanke and Secretary-General Sezibera signed a financial agreement to commit 30 million euros for live-saving vaccines in the EAC and the establishment of the EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Health Supply Chain Management in Kigali.
With a view to strengthen the pandemic preparedness in the EAC, Germany had announced its willingness to provide an additional 3 million euros in technical assistance for the region’s crisis response capacity (out of special funds for 2016).
Since co-operation began in 1998, the total volume of German support to the EAC amounts to almost 213 million euro. Germany also has substantial bilateral co-operation with all five EAC Partner States.
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EALA Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega wants Anti-Corruption Authorities in the EAC region to further concert efforts, establish linkages and support enactment of a regional law in their quest to rid the region of corruption.
Consequently, the regional Assembly is set to collaborate with the anti-graft authorities under the aegis of the East African Association of the Anti-Corruption Authorities (EAAACA).
The EALA Speaker this morning presided over the opening ceremony of the 9th EAAACA Annual General Meeting themed Strengthening Efforts to eradicate Corruption in Entebbe, Uganda.
Rt Hon. Kidega said that EALA and the EAC were committed to combating the chronic cancer of corruption. He said the Assembly would soon table and discuss key pieces of legislation to combat the scourge.
“On our part as an Assembly, you will be pleased to note that we are considering enacting 3 key Bills to confront corruption head-on. The envisaged Bills are the EAC Integrity and Anti-Corruption Bill, 2015, the EAC Procurement Bill, 2015 and the EAC Whistle Blowers Bill, 2015. The Laws passed by EALA supersede those of the Partner States on matters within the purview of the Community”, the Hon Speaker remarked.
He termed regional co-operation as a key component in containing corruption saying that it undermined good governance, erodes the rule of law and hampers economic growth. “If left unattended, it could spiral to uncontrollable levels given the other criminal activities such as money laundering, bribery and abuse of Office”, Rt Hon. Kidega remarked.
The Speaker was emphatic that it was necessary for the Association to have a closer working relationship within the EAC. “As a key institution in the eradication of corruption, it is vital and necessary for EAAACA to explore means and ways of working with EAC including been considered for Observer Status at the Community”, he remarked.
According to the Speaker, the Mbeki-led Report on the High-Level Panel on illicit Financial Flows released in February this year is telling. The Report narrates that illicit flows relate principally to commercial transactions, tax evasion, criminal activities such as money laundering, bribery, corruption and abuse of office, which he said promote corrupt tendencies.
Moreover, it is reported that countries that are rich in natural resources and countries with inadequate or non-existent institutional architecture are most at risk of falling victim to illicit financial flows.
In attendance at the two-day AGM are representatives of Anti-Corruption Authorities from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
The meeting is being hosted by the Inspectorate of Government led by the Inspector-General of Government of the Republic of Uganda Hon. Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja Kakooza. Lady Justice Kakooza maintained that ridding corruption needed political, legislative and the goodwill of all citizens.
The Minister for EAC Affairs, Hon. Shem Bageine said corruption had spread its tentacles in various sectors in the region and largely manifested itself across the divide. “Governments, Private and Public sectors must get to the bottom of and root out this evil”, Minister Bageine added.
On his part, the President of the EAAACA, Mr Clément Musangwabatware reiterated the need to embrace good governance and total fight on corruption which he termed costly to governments and businesses.
Analysts contend that promoting and facilitating co-operation among EAC Partner States is crucial in ensuring effectiveness of measures and actions to detect, investigate, punish and eradicate corruption.
The Association is further expected to review its activities over the year as it strategises over how to make it more effective.
The AGM is the supreme governing body of the Association and comprises of Members of Anti-Corruption Authorities of EAAACA and Honorary Members.