Where is the Spirit of the East Africa Community Integration


The relations between Uganda and Rwanda have in the recent past been sour with several accusations and counter-accusations flying the air by both Countries. Rwanda closed its Boarder late February citing many reasons among which it accused Uganda of illegal arrests, torture and deportation of their citizens. The close off of the boarder not only affected Ugandan traders but also Rwandan Citizens who were not allowed to cross to Uganda for "their own safety." We saw stories of students who missed classes, Rwandan citizens arrested for attempting to buy food across the boarder and the situation still remains ugly.

The two countries may have issues, but to what extent should its citizens suffer? Both Countries are members of the East Africa Community and as a matter of fact, Uganda has just recently passed on the chairmanship to Rwanda! It is clear that both Ugandans and Rwandans are not at war-neither are they involved in any acute conflicts-for they share a lot in common and as such, they should not suffer the consequences of this stand off. The continued stand off violates the East Africa Treaty and the Common Market Protocol which provides for free movement of persons and services among others. It is times like this that one would want to see the East Africa Community prevailing over the situation if indeed, we believe in the integration. It is high time countries examined themselves genuinely on the membership of such regional blocks because if such a matter cannot be prevailed over by the EAC, then it means we do not need the East Africa Community at all.

I therefore call for the spirit of the East African Community to prevail over the situation and matters resolved amicably in public interest to enable the return normalcy otherwise, this current issue may be the first cause of the collapse of the "resurrected" East African Community.

By:
Michael Aboneka Jr.

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