The East African Community Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Beatrice Kiraso has said that good governance and rule of law, are basic conditions for peaceful co-existence and economic prosperity for the regional bloc.
Kiraso who is also Secretary General of Uganda’s strongest opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was speaking at a conference in Kampala Uganda with the theme: “Upholding the Rule of Law and Constitutionalism for the Promotion of Regional Integration.”
Hon. Kiraso also argued the EAC citizens to fully participate in good governance issues as they have a crucial role and duty to play in their countries’ growth and development.
“Complacency on the part of citizens towards their governments’ actions, or their reluctance to participate in governance processes contributes to bad governance,” she underscored.
“Guaranteeing the security of people in East Africa will ensure sustainable development in the region,“ she said.
However, the EAC official cautioned that when holding the government accountable, the people must behave responsibly as individuals and communities through their elected representatives.
The Vice President of Uganda Dr. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekendi emphasised the importance of upholding rule of law and constitutionalism in the region, saying that they are the bedrock in the deepening and widening East African Community (EAC) integration.
“Deficits in good governance principles and practices have been responsible for conflicts and political unrest in some parts of the continent,” he further noted adding that efforts to address them collectively will make the region more stable.
In regard to the constitutionalism and administration of justice in the regional context, Sskendi added that it was a manifestation of EAC partner states and determination to take the integration process to its logical conclusion literally meaning the EAC Political Federation.
“We cannot go there unless certain principles, policies and legislations are harmonized,” the Vice President stressed.
Commenting on the issues raised, Rwanda’s justice minister Tharcise Karugarama noted that there was a need to harmonize policies and laws but only at a regional level.
He further pointed out that not all laws can be harmonized since member states have different systems of governance and history.
“Tanzania for instance is a federal state which shares power with Zanzibar, you see their background wouldn’t allow them to harmonize all their laws, Rwanda too has its own history and way of doing things,” he emphasised.
“This isn’t an issue of Rwanda against East Africa all countries have different systems and it would be hard to harmonize all laws to have East Africa as one country with uniform laws,” he remarked.
Karugarama further noted that there was progress in the country’s good governance despite a few that criticize the representative voting process whereby citizens vote political parties as opposed to individuals.
“It’s not only Rwanda that uses this style even other countries have similar voting processes, and we also have direct elections too, the criticism is not right,” he remarked.
The objective of the annual conference is to promote continuous debate and advocacy at the highest levels of political leadership to underscore good governance if regional integration is to be strong and sustainable.
At the end of the conference, the delegates will make some resolutions and recommendations to the EAC decision-making organs.
The program on Good Governance bases on Article 6(d) of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community which provides for upholding the fundamental principles of good governance including adherence to the rule of law, accountability, transparency and respect for human rights, gender equality and equal opportunities.
A draft Protocol is in the process of being finalized according to reliable sources of the Arusha-based EAC Secretiariat.
The three day annual conference which began wednesday is organized by EAC Secretariat and will build on the momentum from the two previous conferences.
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