Your Excellency, please accept my profound congratulations on your recent inauguration as President of Uganda and as the current Chairman of the East African Community.
If I were to give you an award, besides being a vanguard for peace and stability in Uganda and the Great Lakes region, I would recognise you for being the chief promoter of value addition for African commodities/raw materials, foremost campaigner for wealth creation (Entandikwa, Bonna bagaggawale, Emyooga and Parish Development Model) and lead
Advocate for African trade promotion (on a global scale) instead of aid, and champion for the economic and political federation of the East African community. I toast to your numerous accomplishments, which leave no doubt that you are not only a visionary leader but a true statesman. For purposes of this article, however, allow me to focus the spotlight on the East
African community
On July 7th 2000, the East African Community was revived, and 26 years later, the community has grown in membership from the original 3 (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania) to 8 members, including (Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, South Sudan & Somalia).
Unfortunately as the community grows in membership, 26 years down the road, there is no monetary union, and a political federation looks like a pipe dream. Despite 26 years of inspirational speeches, grand summits, joint communiques and declarations made by the East African leaders, there is such a huge contrast between the passionate speeches and any bold steps on the ground to actualise the dream.
Are leaders merely paying lip service to the grand dream of political federation? Can’t they see the numerous benefits for all member States and citizens, or is it that, despite the high-sounding public speeches, privately, preserving individual sovereignty is more important than seeing the bigger picture?
Surely, we have all heard about the concerns and fears of the Tanzanians about their land, but has the Tanzanian government ever held a referendum to ask Tanzanians whether or not they want to politically federate with the rest of the East African countries and they said no?
Have Kenya, Uganda and the rest of the member states ever carried out referenda to ask their people? If the answer is no, perhaps it’s high time such referenda are high on the East African agenda, ahead of any other business, borrowing a leaf from Brexit, where Britain asked the British whether they wanted to exit from the European community.
Instead of this chronic foot-dragging, I suggest that all East African states should hold referenda to ask their people if they want their countries to form the East African political federation. If East Africans vote yes, there is no stumbling block to political federation. What will remain will be the legal framework. That could be a prudent option.
The other option would be for two or three willing countries (a coalition of the willing states) to declare a monetary union and political federation, giving time for other countries to join later on.
All member countries do not have to consent on the same day, and at the same time. We must be realistic and pragmatic to get this thing rolling. Over to you Nyakubahwa Perezida.
The writer is a lawyer
So, Rwandese Museveni who colonised Uganda & assured of 45 years with fake elections is to ensure referenda about East African Federation?
Ugandans are keeping Rwandese Museveni by being powerless tribally divided ruled, is this going to help East Africa & how?
Why are Ugandans so so afriad to live without Rwandese Museveni & ensure his lifetime rule, knowing only his family member will succeed him?
But Mr. Kabagambe, the E.A Federation you are writing about to our PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa, is as BOGUS as Gen Tibuhaburwa himself, as well as the 5 (five) additional countries: Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, South Sudan & Somalia.
First of all, because of their social colonial and political background (French, Pseudo Arabic and/or Islamist these countries were total strangers: uneasy, incompatible and an inconvenience to the Original EAC membership (former Brits colony).
In other words as it is, and 20 years counting; the E. A Community is but a BIG FAT WHITE ELEPHANT with only a propaganda value, to especially serve the EGO of your backward, savage Bismarck!
E.g., except maybe Rwanda, the other 4 (Burundi, DRC, South Sudan & Somalia) and of course including Uganda; can hardly afford to pay their Annual Membership Subscription. Actually Rwanda despises and looks down at all of them as good-for-nothing failed states.
To make a case e.g., for two (2) years: from 19th Feb 2019 to 31st January 2022, Rwanda SHUT its door on Uganda’s face!
Such a nasty gesture (2-year-border closer) and/or belligerent relationship between two EAC membership was and still is that of worst and hostile enemies states. That is the phenomena that happens when Great Allies become Great Enemies.
Kabagame, the wounds of war never heals!
E.g., since the 1994 Rwanda Genocide and the ejection of president Mobutu (RIP in the Moroccan wilderness) from power by; the Joint RPA/F and the NRA/UPDF in 1996, what is genuinely “community” about the relationship between Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda?
Mr Kabagambe, you must be the only person in this country who has eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear. I mean, don’t you see how all institutions in this country have failed? Just because of one single individual who has mis-led this country for 4 decades? Tell us which neighboring country would wish to federate with a country like ours, with its failed instutions and leadership? Mr Kabagambe, we, as citizens of this country, may have been cowed by the brutality of this leadership, but we are not as dense as you are. Keep your frivoulous ideas to yourself. This country has much more important matters to resolve, than your stupid petition for a referendum.