East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th July, 2021: The Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr. John V. K. Mongella, on Thursday paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Receiving the RC, Hon. Dr. Mathuki said that it was the wish of the Summit of EAC Heads of State that the Community should be taken to the people at the grassroots who are its actual owners. Dr. Mathuki said that under the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, the integration process is supposed to be people-centred and market-driven with the private sector as the engine of economic growth.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 07th July, 2021:The EAC Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, has commended a team of cycling enthusiasts in the region for their commitment to the EAC integration process and their desire to spread the EAC gospel across the region as they prepare to embark on the 55-day, 6,000km long Great African Cycling Safari.
“The East African Community is for the people of East Africa, and I salute you, our brave cyclists for your commitment and desire to take the East African Community to the people, through this cycling safari,” said Dr. Mathuki.
The Secretary General was speaking during the official launch of the 4th Great African Cycling Safari, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, earlier today.
Dr. Mathuki said that the Great African Cycling Safari was a worthy cause that should be supported by all Partner States, adding that it presents a unique opportunity for the integration not only in the region but in Africa as a whole, unified by the power of sports.
“This is the greatest cycling event in the world, the world-renowned Tour de France is a 10-day, 3,000 kilometre event. We must therefore take pride that our youth have come up with this initiative,” said the Secretary General.
The Secretary General said that the cyclists aim to create awareness around the integration process by sensitizing communities resident along the bike tour as they interact with them.
“This is of importance to the EAC because you are taking the integration process to the people who are its actual owners,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, the East African Business Council (EABC) Executive Director/CEO, Mr. John Bosco Kalisa commended the cyclists for their efforts in promoting a spirit of East Africanness, one that was built on unity, peace, and collective development.
Mr. Kalisa reaffirmed EABC’s commitment to partner and support the event by engaging EABC members and business leaders to join in the cycling segments, offer sponsorships, as well as in-kind donations as part of the private sector’s corporate social responsibility.
The Chairman of the Great African Cycling Safari, Mr. Francis Munywoki, said that the 2021 edition of the Safari being held under the theme “Green Africa: Experience Africa, Integrate Humanity” is also meant to create awareness on the various aspects of climate change.
“We are embarking on a journey to not only create awareness on the EAC integration agenda and the climate change challenges on the region, but to also do something to actually fix these challenges,” said Mr. Munywoki.
“There will be opportunities to plants tress, we already have 1,000 trees that have been donated by a partner, which we shall plant in Tanzania before we set off to Kenya,” he added.
Mr. Munywoki said that the Great African Cycling Safari presents an opportunity to re-write the African story.
Logfire Camps Executive and Expedition Director, Mr. John Bosco Balongo said that this year’s safari was an adventure and an opportunity for cycling enthusiasts to enjoy a sport they love and see the beauty East Africa has to offer.
“We expect this to be the biggest of the other three we have hosted in the past and are looking forward to growing this event to be a recognised international competitive event,” said Mr. Balongo.
During the border crossings of the Safari, the EAC together with EABC shall organize Public-Private Dialogues with Trade Facilitation Agencies at the EAC One-Stop Borders Posts as a platform to deliberate on challenges and strategies to better facilitate trade.
Over the last four years, the Great African Cycling Safari has successfully staged progressive cycling tours through all East African capitals under the banner of East African Bicycle Tour also known as Tour d’EAC.
These tours have brought together local and international biking enthusiasts from all walks of life to experience the unique terrain and exotic culture, create awareness and promote the integration of East Africans and Africans in general.
This year’s event is envisaged to be the biggest cycling event in the world. It will officially kick off on 1st August, 2021 for a period of 55 days and come to a close at the EAC Headquarters on 25th September, 2021.
More than 1,000 participants from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia will cover 6,000 kilometers, traversing through five East African capitals, one city at a time. This year’s tour will start in Dar es Salaam in the United Republic of Tanzania and pass-through Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Bujumbura, Dodoma and terminate in Arusha on the foot hills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain.
Participants can register for the event online, https://eactour.bike for US$25 for East Africans and US$ 500 for Non-East Africans for the entire tour. Cyclists have the choice of choosing a segment of any length they would like to join.
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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 7th July, 2021: The Irish Ambassador to Tanzania, H..E. Mary O’Neil has been credited to the East African Community.
Amb. O’Neil presented her credentials from the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 06th July, 2021: The UK High Commissioner to Tanzania and the EAC, H.E. David Concar, on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on EAC Secretary, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
H.E. Concar assured the Secretary General that it was his country’s policy that Sub-Saharan Africa should not be sidelined when it comes to accessing COVID-19 vaccines.
He urged the EAC and Partner States to build back better after the pandemic by using the crisis to accelerate reforms and progress to ensure that the health sector and other systems were much better than they were before the onset of COVID.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 06th July, 2021: The new East African Business Council (EABC) Executive Director/CEO, Mr. John Bosco Kalisa, today paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Receiving Mr. Kalisa and the EABC delegation, Dr. Mathuki informed the team that private sector development and trade development were top of the EAC priorities for the 2021/2022 financial year.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 5th July, 2021: EAC Partner States have begun the 2021/2022 Financial year with a focus on economic recovery through industrialization and inclusive growth, taking into account the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for EAC, Dr. Kevit Desai, said that the region was putting in place strategies to ensure economic recovery in all Partner States from the destructive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a region, we have witnessed the devastation created within the economies of the Partner States, including the fall in intra-regional trade, job losses, limited mobility within the region and loss of lives,” said the PS.
East African Court of Justice, 1st July, 2021: The First Instance Division struck out an application seeking orders against the government of Uganda, East African Community Secretary General and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) to avail documents to support the applicant’s case.
The court in its ruling struck out the application because the petitioners included the Attorneys General of Kenya and Tanzania who were not parties to the case. The court ruled that the petitioners were at liberty to amend their case by excluding the wrong parties they had included.
The case that was filed by Isaac E. N. Okero and Others is challenging the Government of Uganda, the EAC Secretary General and LBVC over alleged violations of the Treaty by abdicating their responsibilities of proper management of the outflow of waters from Lake victoria and failing to adhere to a policy for the release of water into River Nile from the lake.
The petitioners further allege that the anticipated long rains in East Africa had caused an increase of water levels along the lake’s shorelines and the backflow of some rivers terminating in the lake thereby causing extensive flooding which is an infringement of the fundamental principles of the Community.
During its second session, the court heard an application seeking for interim orders to prohibit the government of Burundi from implementing the decision delivered by the Special Court of Burundi to demolish the houses and crops of the applicants pending hearing and determination of the case.
The petitioners’ lawyer, Mr. Nsabimana Janvier, said that the destruction of the properties had caused irreparable damage that could not be compensated and that the government must ensure respect for good governance as enshrined under the Treaty.
The Government of Burundi (Respondent) represented by Counsel Vyizigiro objected to the prayers by the applicant and submitted that the application was time barred arguing that it was filed after the two (2) months limit as prescribed by the Treaty.
Counsel Vyizigiro argued that the decision of the Special Court was rendered on 28th August, 2019 while the case was filed on 29th January, 2020. Counsel Vyizigiro also said that the applicant based his application on non-existent acts as alleged. The defence counsel contended that after the said decision was delivered, the Minister of Justice of Burundi issued a letter stopping the court from executing the impugned decision. He therefore asked court to dismiss the application with costs.
The court will deliver its ruling on the matter in due course. The matters were brought before Honourable Judges of the First Instance Division Justice Yohane Masara (Principal Judge), Justice Audace Ngiye, Justice Dr. Charles Nyawello, Justice Charles Nyachae, Justice Richard Wabwire Wejuli and Justice Richard Muhumuza.
For more information please contact:
Yufnalis Okubo Registrar East African Court of Justice Arusha, Tanzania Tel: 255-27-2162149 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Court of Justice
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.
Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the respective National Courts in the Partner States.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 30th June, 2021: The EAC Sectoral Council on Transport Communications and Meteorology (TCM) has directed the United Republic of Tanzania to adhere to the set date of 30th September, 2021 on the implementation of the EAC Roaming Framework.
The TCM which met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania further directed the Republic of Burundi to expedite the implementation of the EAC Roaming Framework.
East African Court of Justice, Arusha, Tanzania, 30th June, 2021: The Chairperson of the EAC Coordination Committee, Dr. Kevit Desai, who is also the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community, Kenya paid a courtesy call on the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice, Justice Nestor Kayobera, to understand the operations of the court and how it could be assisted to execute its mandate more effectively.
Justice Kayobera hailed the PS and his delegation for the historic visit and informed them that it is a good sign of strengthening the relationship of the court with the other Organs of the Community.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 28th June, 2021: The East African Community has tabled before the East African Legislative Assembly the budget estimates for the 2021/2022 Financial Year totalling US$91,784,296.
The Chairperson of the Council of Ministers and Kenya’s Minister for EAC, Hon. Adan Mohamed, in the Budget Speech read on his behalf by Chief Administrative Secretary, Hon. Ken Obura, said that the 2021/2022 budget was coming at a time the COVID-19 pandemic had ravaged economies through lockdowns and economic shutdowns that had affected economic performance in the entire region negatively.
