East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 18th June, 2021: Kenya’s EAC Affairs and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Hon. Adan Mohamed has called upon the international community in general and the EAC Partner States in particular to work together at different levels in the fight against all forms of genocide ideology or any slightest signal of its kind.
“If we are to succeed in eradicating the genocide vice, we need to renew our commitments now than ever before, to show those who are still enslaved in those thoughts that the world can no longer tolerate any form of divisionism in its midst and that we are united and committed,” he noted.
East African Court of Justice, 18th June 2021:The President of the East African Law Society Mr Bernard Ounda pays a courtesy call on the Judge President and Principal Judge of the Court to discuss areas of cooperation.
His Lordship Justice Nestor Kayobera President of the Court commended the good support so far provided to Court by EALS especially on the capacity building for the Lawyers in the Partner States on EACJ matters, publication of Law reports for the Court, survey on the implementation of the Court's decisions among others.
Justice Kayobera also called upon EALS as an Apex body which has an observer status to EAC to continue working together to implement the Treaty in particular Articles 126 on legal and judicial affairs to promote the achievements of the objectives of the Community.
"The Court cannot work without lawyers, working with lawyers does not mean interference and the independence of the Court does not mean working in isolation, we must work together for the interests of the people, so let us embrace the spirit of Teamwork" said Judge President
The Principal Judge Justice Yohane Masara, on his part, said that there is need to train lawyers on the new rules of the Court as the Court still experiences prayers from many advocates on filing of pleadings out of time as well as jurisdiction of the Court to enable them to know which cases to file to EACJ.
EALS President Mr Bernard Oundo expressed his gratitude to EACJ for the good working cooperation with EALS and re- committed to continue the support on various areas especially on capacity building for the Judges on interpretation of Trade agreement as many cases on Common Market Protocols are increasing and Lawyers will be trained on the new rules of the Court to improve the quality of the pleadings filed to Court.
Registrar also commended EALS for the good working relations and indicated that Court can't do without them as Key stakeholders and have filed several cases which have enriched the jurisprudence of the Court.
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, 17th June, 2021: The EAC Secretariat has been urged to actively engage Partner States diplomatic missions abroad as part of efforts to promote the region’s economic interests.
Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Amb. Liberata Mulamula, said that such engagement would equip EAC Ambassadors with deeper insights on the integration process.
Amb. Mulamula said that such engagement should not necessarily be physical given the current COVID-19 pandemic, adding that EAC Ambassadors were supposed to implement economic diplomacy not only for their respective Partner States but for the entire region.
East African Court of Justice, 17th June 2021: The First Instance Division allowed Adam Kyomuhendo (Applicant) to serve his case to the Attorneys General in the Partner States and the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) in a matter seeking Court’s interim orders restraining the Summit of the EAC Heads of State and Government of EAC or any Organ as may be delegated by the Summit upon taking any decision concerning the Application of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to join the Community as the 7th Member of the Community until the hearing and determination of the main Case (Reference No. 11 of 2020).
Kyomuhendo (Applicant) had already served the Attorney General (AG) of Uganda and therefore he will serve other six (6) parties (Respondents) that is the AG of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania & the Secretary General of EAC in Application No.11 of 2020 and court will fix the matter for hearing in the next session.
The main Case is seeking Court orders to permanently stop the Summit of the EAC Heads of State and Government of the Partner States & the Secretary General of the EAC from admitting the DRC to EAC, alleging that the DRC has been illegally and without due trial or process holding Ugandan activist Samuel William Mugumya and more than 35 other Ugandans for more than 6 years contrary to the fundamental and human rights principles for the establishment of the EAC as envisaged under the Treaty.
The case further alleges that to admit the DRC into the Community in light of those fundamental human rights breaches would be to flagrantly violate the EAC Treaty which stipulates that as a pre-condition for admission into the Community, the Summit must verify and ascertain that such new member accepts the Community as set out in the Treaty and adheres to the universally accepted principles of good governance, democracy, the rule of law, social justice and observes human and people’s rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
Court also heard another case and allowed the Attorney General of Rwanda to file his response in Application No. 3 of 2020 seeking for interim orders against the government of Rwanda to suspend all the construction activities of Gisenyi Modern Market in Kigali until the completion of the Court process in the main Case (Reference No. 18 of 2018) pending hearing and determination.
The said Reference filed by ABBA LTD versus the Attorney General of Rwanda is challenging the revocation of the sale agreement of the Gisenyi Modern Market to the Applicant (ABBA LTD). The Applicant contends that the unilateral decision to revoke the sale agreement Infringes the Treaty and seeks compensation of the Contract. The matter will be fixed for hearing 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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 16th June, 2021:Uganda's High Commissioner to Tanzania, H.E. Richard Kabonero, today paid a courtesy call on the Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, in his office at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Secretary General and envoy discussed a wide range of issues geared at moving forward regional integration in East Africa.
East African Court of Justice15th June, 2021: The President of the Court Hon Justice Nestor Kayobera accompanied by Principal Judge Justice Yohane Masara and the Registrar of the Court welcomed the President of East African Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (EAMJA), Lady Justice Sophia Wambura with her delegation and handed over an office offered by the Court.
This was done as a way of supporting and strengthening the collaboration of the Court and national judiciaries through EAMJA. “Me offering an office to EAMJA is not a favor but an obligation” said Justice Kayobera
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 12th June, 2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, together with the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Ngoga, and the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice, Justice Nestor Kayobera paid a courtesy call on the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, at State House in Dar es Salaam.
During the visit, the Secretary General expressed his gratitude to the President and other members of the EAC Summit for his appointment as the sixth Secretary General of the Community.
“I have embraced the responsibility you have given me, and I am committed to serving the people of East Africa. In serving the people, I shall seek your wisdom and guidance on how best we, as a Community, can push the integration agenda further,” said Dr. Mathuki.
The Secretary General informed President the Tanzanian Head of State that the EAC Organs had resolved to enhance collaboration and were committed to working together towards attaining the vision of the Community.
“The Partner States want value for money, and value for money is results, we have therefore committed ourselves to join efforts to produce the results as expected by the Partner States,” added the Secretary General.
Dr. Mathuki briefed the President on the need for the region to devise strategies to enhance intra-EAC trade, which currently stands below 15%, if the region is to realize the vision of a prosperous and competitive East Africa.
“Dialogue with the private sector is important to enable us address the various barriers to trade. It is my hope that in the next five years, we shall be recording intra-EAC trade above 50%,” he added.
The Secretary General said that to better facilitate regional trade, there is need for the establishment of the EAC Disputes Settlement Mechanism, as provided for under Article 24 of the EAC Customs Union Protocol to address all matters pertaining to trade, including the Rules of Origin, anti-dumping measures, subsidies and countervailing measures, and safeguard measures.
The Secretary General further said that while the Covid-19 pandemic had adversely affected the region, like the rest of the world, there was need for the region to adopt a common approach to mitigate the pandemic and facilitate economic recovery and safe trade.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General, in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Steven Mlote, briefed the President on the various infrastructure development projects aimed at connecting Tanzania to the rest on the region.
The Deputy Secretary General said that various EAC road projects were currently at various stages, key among which are the 400 km road from Tanzania to Kenya running from Bagamoyo-Tanga/LungaLunga- Malidi, including a 523 meter Pangani Bridge; the 305 km road from Tanzania to Burundi running from Nyakanazi – Kasulu – Manyovu (260 km) in Tanzania and Rumonge – Rutunga – Bujumbura (45 km) in Burundi; the 166km road linking Tanzania and Rwanda from Lusahunga – Rusumo (91 km) in Tanzania to Kayonza – Kigali (75 km) in Rwanda; and the 253 km road from Tanzania to Uganda from Masaka-Mutukula-Kyaka (120 km) in Tanzania to Bugene-Kasulo-Kumunazi (133 km) in Uganda.
Eng. Mlote said that in addition to the ongoing projects, there were several infrastructure development projects that had already been concluded and were now operational.
“The EAC has also competed various road projects, including the 240 km Arusha – Namanga – Athi River Road Project; and the 260 km Arusha – Holili – Taveta – Voi Road both linking Tanzania and Kenya; as well as the 42.4 km Arusha Bypass,” added Eng. Mlote.
On her part, President Hassan commended the close collaboration between the Organs and Institutions of the Community, noting that the team spirit will propel the Community greater heights.
The President said that the EAC was integral to fast tracking the development of the region, adding that there was a need to review the EAC Partner State contribution mechanism, to ensure all members were able to meet their statutory obligations as well as enjoy the benefits of their membership to the regional bloc.
“As a Community, the Partner States are all at different levels of development, and our ability to meet our statutory obligations to the EAC vary, we therefore need to look into how this can be addressed so all members are able to meet their obligations,” said the President.
On private sector development, the President stressed on the need to devise strategies to develop the private sector in the region.
“I firmly believe that for a county’s economy to grow, the private sector plays a critical role. We should therefore work towards developing the private sector in the region,” added President Hassan.
In line with private sector development, the President emphasized the need for the region to capitalize on each Partner State’s competitive advantages to spur industrialization.
President Hassan further disclosed that Tanzania had prioritized youth empowerment through various programmes but pointed out that youth employment still remains a vice which calls for urgent attention, not only in Tanzania but the region as a whole.
“The region needs a strategic approach to addressing youth unemployment such as vocational training and access to capital, if not addressed, the challenges unemployment will breed will pose a greater challenge to the region,” said the President.
Referring to the EAC’s institutional framework, the President stressed the need for a comprehensive review of the Treaty and other legal instruments to reflect the current times.
“The Treaty establishing the EAC was put on paper 20 years ago when we were only three members. We have now grown to six and hopefully we shall continue growing. We therefore need to not only review the Treaty, but other instruments as well, to align them with what we have already done, and what we aspire to do,” she added.
The President reassured the EAC delegation of her commitment to the EAC integration, adding that Tanzania was indeed reaping the benefits of the EAC, and is keen to see the Community flourish and become a subject of admiration in regional and international fora.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 12th June, 2021: The East African Community will deploy a verification mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to assess the country’s suitability to be admitted into the Community.
The 31st Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers of EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP) held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha appointed a verification team comprised of three experts from each Partner State to be funded by the EAC Secretariat and an additional maximum of two experts to be funded by the nominating Partner State to carry out the Verification Mission from 23rd June to 3rd July, 2021.
The Summit of EAC Heads of State at its 21st Ordinary Meeting held on 27th February, 2021 considered the application by DRC to join the Community and directed the Council to expeditiously undertake a verification mission in accordance with the EAC procedure for admission of new members into the EAC and report to the 22nd Summit.
The SCMEACP, which was chaired by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC and Regional Development, Hon. Adan Mohamed, further directed the Secretariat to submit the report of the Verification Mission to the Council of Ministers by November 2021.
The verification team will, among other things, review the current status of the DRC in international law and establish the country’s level of conformity with the Criteria for admission of foreign countries as provided in the Treaty.
Under the Treaty, the criteria for the admission of new countries into the Community include: acceptance of the Community as set out in the Treaty; adherence to universally acceptable principles of good governance, democracy, the rule of law, observance of human rights and social justice; potential contribution to the strengthening of integration within the East African region; geographical proximity to and inter-dependence between it (the foreign country) and the EAC Partner States; establishment and maintenance of a market-driven economy; and; Social and economic policies being compatible with those of the Community.
On the status of implementation of the EAC Common Protocol, the Ministers directed the Republic of South Sudan to expedite the domestication of the EAC Common Market and Customs Union Protocols. The Ministers/Cabinet Secretaries had earlier been informed that South Sudan was yet to domesticate the two protocols.
The Council also directed United Republic of Tanzania to ratify the EAC Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary (SPS) Protocol by 31st November, 2021. The EAC SPS Protocol was assented to by the Summit of EAC Heads of State in 2012 and was expected to be ratified by 30th June, 2014.
However, the implementation of the SPS is still pending due to the delay of in ratification by Tanzania, which will pave the way for its domestication and implementation at EAC Partner State level.
The Ministers adopted the EAC Common Market Scorecard (CMS) 2018 and direct the EAC Secretariat to develop an Action Plan for implementation of the recommendations contained in the Scorecard and report to the 32nd SCMEACP.
The CMS 2018 tracked compliance by Partner States in the Movement of Labour, Right of Establishment and Residence in the Community, as at 2018
This Scorecard covers Protocol obligations on Free Movement of Workers related to: Harmonisation of Mutual and Academic and Professional Qualifications; Labour Policies; Laws and Programmes; Right of Establishment and Right of Residence and Regulations thereto and commitments made by each Partner State at three levels, namely: the Major Group, Sub-Group, and Minor Group.
They directed the EAC Secretariat to incorporate Partner States’ legal reforms undertaken after 30th June, 2018, the data cut-off date for the Scorecard in the next edition of the Scorecard on Free Movement of Labour, Rights of Establishment and Residence.
The Ministers directed the EAC Secretariat to expedite the process of approximating labour laws. They directed Partner States to harmonize their national labour policies, laws and programmes in line with Article 12 of the Protocol.
On efforts to rebrand the Community by developing a new corporate identity, the Ministers approved and adopted the submissions by six youth (one from each Partner State) to give the EAC a new look and feel.
The Council adopted Aheebwa Job Atwooki of Uganda as the best design proposal/Brand Architecture, followed by Pierre Celestin Niyomugabo of Rwanda, Peter Assenga of Tanzania in third place, Tiffin Ntore of Burundi in fourth place, Lutta Wandera of Kenya in fifth place, and Deng Chol of South Sudan in sixth place.
This was the culmination of the EAC Emblem and Logos Competition mounted by the Secretariat to produce a new emblem and logo for the Community and which involved the youth from all the six Partner States.
The rebranding efforts were aimed addressing identified gaps in the EAC corporate identity including: lack of a visual connection between EAC Organs and the Institutions; some EAC Institutions have adopted the EAC logo as their primary logo whilst others have developed their own unique logos, and; too many colours in the EAC logo and flag.
Other identified gaps include: the EAC logo and flag not being adaptable to the expansion of the Community both in terms of geographical location and colour scheme; lack of a common unique identifier for all EAC Organs and Institutions, and; two different visual identity symbols for the Community, that is, logo and flag.
On the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) that brings together COMESA, EAC and SADC, the Ministers directed the Republic of South Sudan to sign and ratify the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement, and the United Republic of Tanzania to expedite the ratification of the TFTA.
Speaking during the opening session, Council Chairperson Hon. Mohamed commended the EAC Secretariat, Organs and Institutions who he said continue to do their best to ensure the success of the Community.
On his part, EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki congratulated Uganda and Tanzania for the recent successful general elections, noting that this was an affirmation that EAC Partner States were committed to democratic ideals in the management of the region’s political affairs.
Dr. Mathuki urged the EAC leadership at all levels to strengthen their support to the integration agenda so as to effectively face and deal with the challenges that the region has, and continues to experience.
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, Arusha, Tanzania, 12th June, 2021: Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Amb. Liberata Mulamula, has reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to regional integration and enhancing intra-EAC trade.
Speaking during a private sector roundtable engagement dinner on EAC regional integration organized by the East African Business Council (EABC) in Dar es Salaam, the Minister said that in the spirit of enhancing intra-regional trade, Tanzania was revitalizing trade relations with her neighbours.
“We can all bear witness that the trade issues between Kenya and Tanzania have been addressed, and we are determined to ensure that such challenges do not arise in the future,” said Hon. Mulamula.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 11th June, 2021: The second phase of the EAC Regional Network of Public Health Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases Project was launched on Friday at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The three-year second phase of the project funded by the Federal Government of Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW), is set to further strengthen the capacities of the EAC Partner States to respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases, including bacterial diseases and cross-border epidemics.
