TWEET CHAT AGENDA:

• SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY

• COMMON MARKET

• MONETARY UNION

• POLITICAL FEDERATION

• SECURITY

• INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

• ENERGY

• EXTRACTIVE AND MINERAL VALUE ADDITION

• TOURISM AND WILDLIFE

• CULTURE AND SPORTS

• IMMIGRATION AND LABOUR

• GENDER

• EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTCE

• CHALLENGES

EAC BUDGET THEMES

• 2013/14 THEME: CONSOLIDATING THE EAC COMMON MARKET AND MOVING TOWARDS THE MONETARY UNION

• 2014/15: CONSOLIDATING THE EAC COMMON MARKET AND COMMENCING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MONETARY UNION PROTOCOL.

BUDGET THEMES PER COUNTRY• KENYA • 2013/14: “TRANSFORMATION

FOR SHARED PROSPERITY.”

• 2013/12: “DEEPENING OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROSPERITY WITHIN A SYSTEM OF DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT.”

• RWANDA

• 2013/14: “STRIVING FOR SELF RELIANCE AND DIGNITY.”

• 2013/12: ??

• TANZANIA

• 2013/14: “TO UNLOCK SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIORITY PROJECTS.”

• 2013/12: “TO REALIZE THE GOALS OF TANZANIA’S DEVELOPMENT VISION 2025 MKUKUTA PHASE 2- MKAKATI WA KUKUZA UCHUMI NA KUPUNGUZA UMASKINI.”

• UGANDA

• 2013/14: THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: TOWARDS SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION FOR UGANDA

• 2013/12: PRIORITIES FOR RENEWED ECONOMIC ADEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.

TOTAL OF REGIONAL BUDGET

• 2014/15 BUDGET STANDS AT $125 MILLION OF WHICH 60% APPROX. $73 MILLION WILL BE CONTRIBUTED BY DONORS( SWEEDEN, BELGIUM, CANADA, DENMARK, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, JAPAN, NORWAY, U.K, E.U AND WORLD BANK AND 40% APPROXIMATELY $42 MILLION WILL BE PROVIDED BY PARTNER STATES

• SHOULD THIS RAISE AN ALARM?

WHO FUNDS THE EAC ACCORDANCE TO ART. 132 OF THE TREATY ?

• PARTNER STATES CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH MINISTRIES OF THE EAC- $42 MILLION

• PARTNER STATES THROUGH OTHER AGENCIES-$5 MILLION

• DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS- $73.1 MILLION

• IUCEA MEMBER UNIVERSITY- $375,190

• MINISTRY OF EDUCATION- IUCEA- $1.2 MILLION

• GENERAL RESERVE- $2.1 MILLION

• OTHER INCOME- $205,850

E.A ROLLS OUT BUDGET TO SPUR GROWTH, BOOST TRADE

KENYA’S 2014/15 BUDGET STANDS AT $20 BILLION

RWANDA’S BUDGET STANDS AT $2.6 BILLION

TANZANIA’S BUDGET STANDS AT $12 BILLION

UGANDA’S BUDGET STANDS AT $5.5 BILLION

RWANDA, TANZANIA, UGANDA AND KENYA INVEST HEAVILY IN INFRASTRUCTURE AS THEY ANNOUNCE TAX MEASURES TO PROTECT LOCAL PRODUCERS BUT ENCOURAGE IMPORTS IN CRUCIAL SECTORS

EAC KEY PRIORITIES: WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

• 2014/15 BUDGET

• OPERATIONALISATION OF SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY INCLUDING SETTING UP AN INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

• FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF EAC COMMON MARKET PROTOCOL

• DEVELOPMENT OF CROSS BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE

• IMPLEMENTATION OF ROADMAP TOWARDS EAC MONETARY UNION

• IMPLEMENTATION OF TRIPARTITE FREE TRADE AREA (COMESA-EAC-SADC)

• SENSITIZATION OF EAST AFRICANS TOWARDS DEEPENED INTEGRATION

• 2013/14 BUDGET

• ESTA. OF A SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY

• PROGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMON MARKET PROTOCOL & HARMONIZATION OF FINANCIAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS

• IMPLEMENTATION OF EAC MONETARY UNION PROTOCOL

• DEV. OF CROSS BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE

• OPERATIONALIZATION OF EAC INDUSTRIALIZATION STRATEGY & POLICY

• CONCLUSION ON NEGOTIATIONS FOR ESTA. OF GRAND FREE TRADE AREA

• IMPLEMENTATION OF CRITICAL ACTIVITIES OF L.VICTORIA BASIN COMMISSION

2014/15 BUDGET ALLOCATIONS TO ORGANS & INSTITUTIONS OF EAC

• EAC SECRETARIAT- $76 MILLION

• EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (EALA)- $15 MILLION

• EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE (EACJ)- $5 MILLION

• INTER UNIVERSITY COUNCIL OF EAST AFRICA (IUCEA)- $9 MILLION

• L.VICTORIA BASIN COMMISSION- $13 MILLION

• L.VICTORIA FISHERIES ORGANISATION- $2.8 MILLION

UPDATE ON INTEGRATION PROCESS & ACHIEVEMENTS MADE

• 1ST PILLAR OF EAC R.I: SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY- FRAMEWORK FOR OPERATIONALIZATION WAS ADOPTED ON Nov. 2013 AND COMMENCED ON 1ST JAN 2014.

• 2ND PILLAR OF R.I: COMMON MARKET- PURSUANT TO ART. 50 OF EAC COMMON MARKET PROTOCOL, EAC COMMON MARKET SCORECARD 2014 WAS LAUNCHED TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF SLOW OR LIMITED PROGRESS.

• 3RD PILLAROF R.I: MONETARY UNION- EAMU PROTOCOL WAS SIGNED ON 30TH NOV. 2013 TO MOVE TOWARDS DEEPER ECONOMIC INTEGRATION.

• 4TH PILLAR: POLITICAL FEDERATION- DRAFT MODEL OF THE FEDERATION WAS CONSIDERED BY 15TH SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE.

UPDATE: SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY

• NORTHERN CORRIDOR HAS DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS WHEREBY CLEARANCE TIME FROM MOMBASA TO KAMPALA AND KIGALI HAS REDUCED FROM 18 DAYS TO 14 DAYS AND 21 DAYS TO 6DAYS RESPECTIVELY.

• THIS HAS LED TO A REDUCTION PER CONTAINER FROM $3,375 TO $1,731 FOR KAMPALA BOUND CARGO AND FROM $4,990 TP $3,387 FOR KIGALI BOUND CARGO.

• AGOA INITIATIVE AND US-EAC TRADE & INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT: 12TH AGOA FORUM HELD IN AUG. 2013, AFRICAN MINISTERS RECOMMENDED REAUTHORIZATION OF AGOA FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS, ENCOURAGEMENT OF US INVESTMENT IN AFRICA, UPHOLD AGOA PREFERENCES FOR ITEMS EXPORTED FROM AFRICA.

UPDATE: SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORYCOMESA-EAC-SADC NEGOTIATIONS ON MARKET INTEGRATION WILL BE CONCLUDED BY JUNE 2014.

THE SAME IS INTENDED TO BE SIGNED DURING THE 3RD SUMMIT OF TRIPARTITE HEADS OF STATES & GOVERNMENTS.

THEREAFTER RATIFIED BY ALL 26 MEMBER STATES BY DEC. 2014.

ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED:

ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA WITHIN THREE REGIONAL BLOCS BY 2017.

TARIFF LIBERALISATION, RULES OF ORIGIN, CUSTOMS PROCEDURES AND SIMPLIFICATION OF CUSTOMS DOCUMENTATION AND TRANSIT PROCEDURES AMONG OTHERS.

TRADE IN SERVICES, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, COMPETITION POLICY, TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS.

THREE PILLARS OF TRIPARTITE FREE TRADE AREA: MARKET INTEGRATION, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

EAC-EU EPA NEGOTIATIONS: ON 27TH MARCH 2014 BOTH PARTIES FINALIZED NEGOTIATIONS ON THE RULES OF ORIGIN PROTOCOL, MOST FAVOURED NATION TREATMENT CLAUSE, AGREED ON PROVISIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE DIALOGUE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

OUTSTANDING ISSUES INCLUDE:

EXPORT TAXES

DOMESTIC SUPPORT & EXPORT SUBSIDIES

RELATIONS WITH COTONOU AGREEMENT DEALING WITH COUNTERING PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND CORRUPTION.

CONSEQUENCES FROM CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT CONCLUDED WITH EUROPEAN UNION.

WHAT DOES EPA’s MEAN FOR EAST AFRICA?

UPDATE: COMMON MARKET

EAC COMMON MARKET SCORECARD 2014

THE SCORECARD DEVELOPS A MONITORING AND EVALUATION FRAMEWORK TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF SLOW OR LIMITED PROGRESS.

SCORECARD COVERS 3 FUNDAMENTAL AREAS: CAPITAL, SERVICES AND GOODS

SCORECARD COMPRISES:

• CREATES A DATABASE OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT SHOULD BE AMENDED TO CONFORM TO THE PROTOCOL

• DESIGNED REFORM PROGRAMS TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROTOCOL

• MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE REQUIRED STARTEGIC, ORGANIZATIONAL AND LEGAL ACTIONS TO FAST TRACK FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROTOCOL

UPDATE: MONETARY UNIONPROTOCOL ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAC MONETARY UNION (EAMU) WAS SIGNED ON 30TH NOV. 2013.

THIS PROTOCOL IS DEEMED TO MOVE TOWARDS DEEPER ECONOMIC INTEGRATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

EAMU PROTOCOL OUTLINES A 10 YEAR ROADMAP TOWARDS A SINGLE CURRENCY BY YEAR 2024.

SO AS TO ENSURE ITS IMPLEMENTATION, PARTNER STATES ARE TO CONCLUDE RACTIFICATION PROCESS BY JULY 2014.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ATTAIN MONETARY UNION:

• HARMONIZATION & COORDINATION OF FISCAL POLICIES.

• COORDINATION OF BUDGETS PROCESSES.

• HARMONIZATION OF TAX POLICIES AND LAWS.

• COORDINATION OF PUBLIC DEBT AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

• MACROECONOMIC CONVERGENCE BE ACHIEVED AND MAINTAINED FOR ATLEAST 3 YEARS PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF CURRENCY.

UPDATE: POLITICAL FEDERATIONDRAFT MODEL OF STRUCTURE OF EAC POLITICAL FEDERATION WAS CONSIDERED BY THE 15TH SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE.

NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE MODEL WERE CONDUCTED IN ALL PARTNER STATES TO ENRICH AND IMPROVE THE MODEL STRUCTURE.

MEETING OF POLITICAL FEDERATION EXPERTS TOGETHER WITH MEMBERS OF EALA WAS HELD TO CONSOLIDATE COMMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS AND PRESENTED THE REVISED MODEL TO THE 12TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT IN APRIL 2014.

IN THE COMING YEARS, THE COMMUNITY WILL DRAFT A CONSTITUTION FOR THE FEDERATION AND DEVELOP A ROADMAP ON WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS WILL INVOLVE.

OTHER STRATEGIES TO LAY DOWN FOUNDATION FOR POLITICAL FEDERATION INCLUDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME ON GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH A PROTOCOL AND DRAFT PROTOCOL ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING CORRUPTION.

BOTH PROTOCOLS ARE STILL AT THE AGENDA OF THE SECTORAL COUNCIL ON LEGAL AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS

SECURITY

COOPERATION AND CONFIDENCE AMONG EAC PARTNER STATES, ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN BUILT TO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS THROUGH CONDUCT OF JOINT MILLITARY EXERCISES, EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, CONDUCT OF MILLITARY GAMES AND SHARING DEFENCE TECHNICAL FACILITIES.

DEFENCE SECTOR HAS ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM IN THE EAC AS A PRIORTITY, RE-ASSESSED THE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL COUNTER TERRORISM STARTEGY IN APRIL 2014.

TO DATE, ONLY UGANDA AND RWANDA HAVE RATIFIED THE PROTOCOL ON COOPERATION IN DEFENCE AND DULY DEPOSITED THE INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL. OTHER PARTNER STATE SHAVE INITIATED THE PROCESS.

RATIFYING THE PROTOCOL WILL PAVE WAY FOR VARIOUS SECURITY RELATED MECHANISMS THAT HAVE SO FAR BEEN CONCLUDED. WHICH INCLUDE: CONFLICT PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT AND RESOLUTION MECHANISM WHICH IS CRITICAL TO ADDRESSING INTER AND INTRA STATE CONFLICTS AND DE-ESCALATION OF TENSIONS.

SECURITY

HAVING A SINGLE DEFENCE TERRITORY HAS BEEN A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE AMONG PARTNER STATES, DELAYING RATIFICATION OF THE PROTOCOL.

THE EAC PROTOCOL IDENTIFIES, AMONG OTHERS, AT LEAST 20 OBJECTIVES FOR FOSTERING REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY.

THESE INCLUDE COMBATING TERRORISM AND PIRACY, PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS, PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE, DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE, MANAGEMENT OF REFUGEES, CONTROL OF PROLIFERATION OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS AND COMBATING TRANSNATIONAL AND CROSS BORDER CRIMES.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: ROADS

COMMUNITY HAS COMPLETED DETAILED DESIGNS OF THE ARUSHA-HOLILI/TAVETA- VOI ROAD PROJECT IN FEB 2013.

CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN KENYA HAVE ALREADY COMMENCED, AND TANZANIA PORTION IS STILL UNDER PROCUREMENT TARGETED TO COMMENCE IN AUGUST 2014. THE PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED BY AfDB.

DESIGNS FOR MALINDI-MOMBASA-LUNGA LUNGA AND TANGA- BAGOMOYO ROAD ARE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 2014.

COMMUNITY SUBMITTED FUNDING PROPOSALS FOR FEASIBILITY AND ENGINEERING TO AfDB TO FUND 2 ROADS LINKING RWANDA: LUSHAHUNGA-RUSUMO AND KAYONZA ROAD AND BURUNDI: NYAKANZAI- MANYOVU AND RUMONGE ROAD TO CENTRAL CORRIDOR AND ON WARD TO DAR es SALAAM’S PORT

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: RAILWAY

COMMUNITY RECEIVED APPROX. $1.7MILLION FROM AfDB FOR EAC RAILWAYS SECTOR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT WHOSE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS:

• TO DETERMINE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING NEW LINES

• VIABILITY OF REVIVING DORMANT LINES;

• HARMONIZING OF RAILWAY LAWS AND STANDARDS

• INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT FOR REGIONAL RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT.

STUDY WILL ASSES RECOMMENDATIONS FROM EAC RAILWYAS MASTER PLAN ON REGIONAL RAILWAYS DEV. AND MAY LEAD TO ESTA. OF EAC RAILWAYS REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

E N E R G Y S E C T O R

PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TOWARDS ESTA. OF EAST AFRICA CENTRE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR EAC’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL INITITAIVE OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

KEY INTERCONNECTIONS PROJECTS UNDER IMPLEMENTATION IN THE REGION SET TO BE COMMISSIONED IN 2015 AND 2016 INCLUDE:

• 400 KILO VOLT INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN KENYA AND UGANDA

• 22O KILO VOLT INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN UGANDA AND RWANDA

• 220 KILO VOLT INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN RWANDA AND BURUNDI

• IMPLEMENTATION OF 16 MEGAWATT KIKAGATI-MURONGO HYDROPOWER PROJECT ON THE BORDER OF TANZANIA AND UGANDA HAS CONTINUED TO FACE DELAYS DESPITE INTEREST FROM PRIVATE SECTOR TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT.

EXTRACTIVE AND MINERAL VALUE ADDITION

TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF LACK OF COMPREHENSIVE AND WELL DESIGNED MINERAL RESOURCES INFORMATION TO SUPPORT SOUND POLICY MAKING BY GVT & INVESTMENT DECISIONS, AND INADEQUALTE FRAMEWORK FOR MINERAL VALUE ADDITION CONTINUES TO HAMPER PROSPECTS FOR HARNESSING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE EXTRACTIVE SECTORS.

THE REGION HAS FINANLIZED THE REVIEW OF LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEOWRKS FOR MINERAL VALUE ADDITION AND PREPARED A ROADMAP TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXTRACTIVE & MINERAL VALUE ADDITION IN PRIORITY MINERALS EG IRON ORE, COAL, NICKEL- COPPER- COBALT AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.

T O U R IS M A N D WIL D L IF E

PROMOTION OF EAC’S SINGLE TOURIST DESTINATION IS ON GOING AT VARIOUS FORUMS E.G INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR

MEDIA CAMPAIGN BY MINISTERS OF TOURISM IN REGION WA SDONE BY ISSUING JOINT STATEMENTS PROMOTING THE REGION AND ASSURING THE WORLD ON MEASURES TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

AT REGIONAL LEVELS, PARTNER STATES ARE ENCOURAGING CITIZENS TO ENJOY THE VARIOUS TOURIST ATTRACTION SITES BY ACCORDING CITIZENS PREFERENTIAL RATES.

EAST AFRICAN TOURIST VISA: IN 2011, PARTNER STATES AGREED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF VARIABLE GEOMETRY TO BEGIN USING THE EAC VISA.

RWANDA, KENYA AND UGANDA LAUNCHED THE INITIATIVE IN FEB. 2014, AIMED AT PROMOTING EAC AS A TOURSIT DESTINATION.

POACHING: COMMUNITY IS FORMULATING JOINT REGIONAL STARTEGY TO STOP POACHING AND ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING OF WILDLIFE & WILDLIFE PRODUCTS AIMING AT TOUGHER PENALTIES, STRENGTHENING JOINT COLLABOARTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IM M IG R A T IO N

FOCUS HAS BEEN PUT ON THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE NEW GENERATION EAST AFRICAN e-PASSPORT.

A ROADMAP HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND COMPUTER GENERATED SAMPLA DESIGNS OF THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE AND ORDINARY EAST AFRICAN PASSPORTS HAVE BEEN DEV.

PASSPORTS SHOULD TAKE EFFECT BY NOV. 2015 AS DIRECTED BY THE 28TH COUNCIL OF MINISTERS.

PARTNER STATES HAVE COMMENCED PROCUREMENT OF REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE AND PASSPORT BOOKLETS.

IMMIGRATION DIRECTORATES AND DEPERTMENTS HAVE PRIORITIZED TO DEV. INTEGRATED e-IMMIGRATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS BY ADOPTING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND IMPROVING PROCESSES, PUTTING IN PLACE IMMIGRATIONNETWORK THROUGH ADOPTION OF BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY AT ALL BORDERS TO REINFORCE NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMS.

G E N D E R M A IN S T R E A M IN G

ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING POLICY DOCUMENTS TO GUIDE THE MAINSTREAMING OF GENDER IN THE EAC AND CIVIL SOCIETY MOBILIZATION HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED IN THE BUDGET 2014/15:

• EAC SOCIAL DEV. POLICY FRAMEWORK, 2013

• PARTICIPATORY GENDER AUDIT REPORT FOR EAC ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS, 2013

• EAC FRAMEWORK FOR GENDER AND SOCIAL DEV. OUTCOME INDICATORS FOR EAC DEV. STRATEGY (2011-2016)

• GUIDELINES AND CHECKLISTS FOR GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN EAC ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS, 2013

• GERNDER MAINSTREAMING STRATEGY FOR EAC ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS, 2013

• GENDER MAINSTREAMING ACTION PLAN FOR PARTNERSHIP FUND

• EAC YOUTH POLICY 2013.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING: PROGRESS REALIZED BY EAC

BURUNDI HAS PERFECT NATIONAL LAWS ON WOMEN BUT THE POLITICAL WILL TO IMPLEMENT IS MISSING. THE FRAMEWORK THEREFORE NEEDS TO HELP BRING OUT THE WOMEN'S AGENDA AS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

A BRIEF ON PROGRESS BEING MADE AT THE SECRETARIAT ON GENDER MAINSTREAMING WAS PROVIDED AS FOLLOWS.

• GENDER PROTOCOL: YET TO BE ADOPTED

• PROPOSED GENDER BILL BY EASSI

• DRAFT EAC GENDER EQUALITY AND DEV. BILL- BY EAC SECRETARIAT

• MONITORING AND EVALUATION FRAMEWORK: TRACKING GENDER EQUALITY COMMITMENTS IN EAC- BY SID & EASSI

• GENDER AUDIT ON ORGANS & INSTITUTIONS OF EAC

• STRATEGIC PLAN: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR

EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE

IN THE SPIRIT OF BRINGING JUSTICE CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE OF EAST AFRICA AND ENABLING THEM TO ACCESS THE COURT, A REVIEW WAS MADE TO ITS RULES OF PROCEDURES BY REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT OF COURT FILING FEES.

NOW A LITIGANT CAN FILE A MATTER WITHOUT PAYING ANY FILING FEES.

THE COURT HAS ALSO INSTALLED A MODERN CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND RECORDING SYSTEM WHICH WAS LAUNCHED BY EAC HEADS OF STATE SUMMIT DURING ITS EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING ON 30TH APRIL, 2014, WHICH HAS A PROVISION FOR ONLINE FILING OF CASES.

THIS SYSTEM WILL BE ACTIVATED AFTER THE COURT HAS AMENDED ITS RULES OF PROCEDURE TO BRING THEM TO CONFORMITY WITH THIS NEW IT DEV.

COURT IS PLANNING TO LINK ITS SUB-REGISTRIES IN PARTNER STATES TO THE HEADQUARTERS IN ARUSHA DURING THIS FINANCIAL YEAR WHERE PROVISION OF USD 350,000 HAS BEEN MADE.

C H A L L E N G E S

• THERE IS NEED TO ESTA. PREDICTABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF THE REGIONAL PROGRAMMES BY PARTNER STATES TO AVOID OVER RELIANCE ON DONRO FUNDING.

• DOMESTICATION OF NATIONAL LAWS TO CONFORM TO LAWS PASSED BY THE COMMUNITY OUGHT TO BE HASTENED TO ENSURE CITIZNES ENJOY THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS ENSHRINED IN THE TREATY.

• RE-OCCURING OF NTB’S OR RESTRICTIONS OTHER THAN CUSTOMS DUTIES MAKING IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION DIFFICULT AND COSTLY E.G WEIGHBRIDGES, POLICE ROADBLOCKS, NON-RECOGNITION OF EAC CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN, LACK OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF QUALITY MARKS, RETESTING OF PRODUCTS, DELAY BY STATUTORY BOARDS IN RELEASING RESULTS OF ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES, ISSUANCE OF IMPORT LICENCES AMONG OTHERS.

• LACK OF SUFFICIENT SENSITIZATION OF EAC CITIZENRY ON THE PROCESS OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND BENEFITS OF INTEGRATION.