Construction of key EAC Multinational Road Project to kick off soon

Posted in Infrastructure

East African Community, Arusha, Tanzania, 23^rd January, 2021:The construction of the multinational Tanzania –Uganda Road Project of Masaka – Kyotera - Mutukula/ Mutukula – Kyaka and Bugene – Kasulo – Kumunazi is on the way after the conclusion of Feasibility Study and Detailed Engineering Design funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the NEPAD-IPPF facility. 

The designs, done by M/S LEA International Limited from Canada in a joint venture with LEA Associates Asia Pvt Ltd from India,  covered 89.5 kilometers of the Masaka to Mutukula road section in Uganda; a 30 km section from Mutukula to Kyaka linking to a 133 km Tanzania section from Bugene to Kumunazi via Kasulo. 

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Cross border road transport laws, regulations, standards and systems harmonized from Cape to Cairo

Posted in Infrastructure

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRPRERSON OF THE TRIPARTITE TASK FORCE

PRESS STATEMENT

TRIPARTITE SECTORIAL MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS ENDORSES LEGAL INSTRUMENTS FOR TRIPARTITE TRANSPORT AND TRANSIT FACILITATION

“Cross border road transport laws, regulations, standards and systems harmonized from Cape to Cairo”.

Following the consideration and adoption of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Vehicle Load Management Agreement (VLMA), the COMESA-EAC-SADC Multilateral Cross-Border Road Transport Agreement (MCBRTA) and five Road Transport Model Laws and Principles by the 2^nd Meeting of the Tripartite Sectorial Ministerial Committee of Infrastructure (TSMCI) that took place in Lusaka, Zambia in October, 2019, the Tripartite Sectorial Ministerial Committee on Legal Affairs (TSMCLA) met on 18^th September 2020.  The TSMCLA met to legally scrub the following Draft Tripartite Road Transport Legal Instruments:

• COMESA-EAC-SADC Vehicle Load Management Agreement;
• COMESA-EAC-SADC Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreement;
• COMESA-EAC-SADC Vehicle Load Management Model Law;
• COMESA-EAC-SADC Cross Border Road Transport Model Law;
• COMESA-EAC-SADC Road Traffic Model Law;
• Draft COMESA-EAC-SADC Road Traffic and Transport Transgressions Model Law; and
• Draft COMESA-EAC-SADC Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road Model Law

The instruments will be presented for consideration for final approval by the Tripartite Ministerial Council that will then recommend the Vehicle Load Management Agreement and the Multilateral Cross-Border Road Transport Agreement for signature, by the Heads of State and Government. The meeting of the Tripartite Council of Ministers is expected to be held before the end of this year (2020).

The COMESA-EAC-SADC Vehicle Load Management Agreement sets out the harmonized regulations and standards and the methodology for calculating overload fees with the purpose to retrieve the additional cost to the infrastructure caused by overloading, as well as the permissible load limits with the view to protect the road pavement as well as to ensure road safety.  The Draft Agreement also provides the basis for cooperation between the Member/ Partner States of the Tripartite Free Trade Area regarding vehicle load management, law enforcement, information sharing, as well as mechanisms for dispute resolution.

The COMESA-EAC-SADC Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreement, provides for a Tripartite legal framework for harmonisation of road traffic and transport related aspects, including vehicle registration documents, transport operator registration, vehicle fitness testing, driver training and testing, as well as driving licence categories based on appropriate international standards, including United Nations Standards.

Further, the Draft COMESA-EAC-SADC Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreement provides for a framework for enabling a comprehensive cross border road transportation management system, which is based on quality regulation as opposed to economic regulation.  The transport management system is supported by an electronic Tripartite Transport Registers and Information Platform System (TRIPS), which enables the exchange of data between the Member/Partner States, from their own National Transport Information Systems (NTIS) that consist of a number of modules, amongst others a vehicle system, a driver system, an operator system and a transgression system.

The draft instruments were developed through the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme (TTTFP) of COMESA, EAC and SADC. The joint programme is funded by the European Union under the 11^th European Development Fund.

- ENDS -

For more information, please contact:

Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

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

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001: 2015 Certified

Tanzania and Uganda agree on truck drivers’ movement amid COVID-19

Posted in Infrastructure

…movement of trucks at Mutukula border resumes

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 19^th June, 2020: The movement of trucks between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda at the Mutukula border has resumed after the two countries reached a consensus on measures to implement while mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mr. William Mkenda, Customs Officer in Charge at Mtukula border (Tanzania), truck drivers will now have to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing in line with East African Community guidelines to tackle trans-border spread of the disease while minimising disruptions to cross border trade.

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EAC Deputy Secretary General pays courtesy call on Regional Administrative Secretary of Kagera

Posted in Infrastructure

East African Community (EAC), Kagera, Tanzania, 16th June 2020: The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Steven Mlote paid a courtesy call on the on Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) of Kagera, Prof Faustine Kamuzora today at the Regional Administrative Secretary Office in Kagera, Tanzania.

The two officials had a lengthy discussion on a number of issues including the on-going infrastructure projects in the Partner States coordinated by the EAC and the importance of Kagera region in the Great Lakes.

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