Custom Union represents ‘the will of East Africans’
The heads of state of the three East African Community
partner states, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Uganda), President Benjamin
William Mkapa (Tanzania) and President Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), held their Fifth
Summit of the East African Community in Arusha on March 2. The summit was also
attended by President Domitiene Ndayizeye of Burundi and Bernard Mukuza, Prime
Minister of Rwanda . After a cordial meeting of the Heads of State, chaired by
Ugandan President, the following communique was issued. Excerpts:
The heads of state signed the protocol on the East African
Customs Union at a colourful ceremony marked with pomp and dignity attended by
thousands of East Africans and their well wishers at the Sheikh Amri Abeid
stadium in Arusha. The heads of state observed that the Customs Union epitomized
the will of the East African people to unite in strength and realize the faster
socio-economic transformation of the Region as a single market and investment
area.
The heads of state received the annual report of the
Council of Ministers for the year 2003 and noted the steady progress made in the
various identified areas of regional integration and development, including
infrastructure projects in roads, railways, posts and telecommunications, energy
and the Lake Victoria Development Programme.
The heads of state witnessed the launching of the EAC
students essay writing competition; and the signing of a memorandum of
understanding by the Mayors of the three East African Capitals – Dar es salaam,
Nairobi and Kampala.
The chairman of the Summit of the East African Community
presided over a ceremony of naming a prominent street in Arusha Barabara ya
Afrika Mashariki and an adjacent close as EAC Close by the Arusha municipality
in honour of the East African Community.Their Excellencies, presidents Museveni
and Mwai Kibaki thanked their host, His Excellency president Benjamin William
Mkapa for the cordial reception and warm hospitality extended to them and their
respective delegations during their stay in Arusha.
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