Representatives of Uganda on the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have urged Ugandans to be cautious with the East African Common Market and understand its protocols before getting excited by the privileges that arises from it’s implementation.
The East African Common Market slated to commence on 1st July 2010 will enable East Africans freely move their goods, services, labour and capital in all the five East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda that constitute the bloc.
East African Community flag
The Chairman of EALA, Uganda Chapter Mike Sebalu told journalists at Parliament today that it is not a guarantee that all East African citizens will begin enjoying the free movement as envisaged by many people because it requires every country to enact a legislation that will ensure the free movement of goods and services.
Dorah Byamukama one of Uganda’s representative to the EALA also indicated that the Common Market will require one to have clear identification before they can enjoy such privileges.
Byamukama citing the East African passports indicated that the free movement in East African countries will not exactly be similar to the free movement within one’s own country.
Byamukama says the onus of implementing the common market policy is now on individual governments by enacting legislation to operationalise it.
By Tiberindwa Zakaria