A section of Members of parliament have reacted to Britain’s decision to withdraw from the European Union saying that this is a big challenge and a lesson to unions like the East African Community that are still struggling to grow. The MPs say if such big wigs and wealthy countries can decide to separate from a union where they would share common developmental ideas, then it has a lesson to teach the still growing countries.

Citing the example of the East African Community where the five member states are looking forward to have a common monetary policy, common market and fight insecurity before it becomes a political federation, this is a big blow. Mp Stephen Mukitale Birahwa of Buliisa county in Bugungu says what has happened to the European Union has weakened the aspirations of the EAC that has been copying a leaf from them.

James Nsaba Buturo Mp for Bufumbira East says with Unity, East African Community can speak with a common voice on issues of its benefit and those they are against like homosexuality but since we are not yet strong, sometimes states fail to reach a common understanding on a given issue. Buikwe south MP Mutebi David says what has happened to EU should be a lesson to member states of the East African Community to identify the challenges that would lead to its separation and work on them before they escalate to cause disunity of a young community.