President Yoweri Museveni has reaffirmed the need for the political federation of East Africa as one of the avenues for partner states to equally benefit from integration.
Addressing Members of the East African Legislative Assembly at their fifth meeting in Kampala, the Uganda President warned that economic integration alone can create disequilibrium with countries not reaping equal benefits.
He told the legislators that to consolidate integration there should be political integration as well saying a common market alone can create injustice by making some partner states markets for the others
President Museveni who hailed the reassembling of the East African Community in 1993 noted that the community cannot be complete without South Sudan and Congo.
“The East African region was a trading area long before the British colonialists. By reviving the community we are fulfilling our historical trade links”, he told MPs.
The Ugandan President confirmed that Uganda had tremendously benefitted from reintegration with export earnings shooting from 282 million dollars to 8 billion dollars.
Rt.Hon. Kadaga Rebecca the Speaker of the Uganda Parliament in her address noted the need to operationalize articles in the treaty for the establishment of the East African Community to enable the region attain political federation.
She hailed the East African Parliament for establishing itself as a strong effective regional legislature.
Kenyan President H.E.Mwai Kibaki is scheduled to address the East African Assembly at the Uganda Parliament Chambers Wednesday morning.
By Isaac Senabulya
