By Godfrey Olukya 25-4-2013
A united East African community(EAC) will guarantee Africa’s future against re-colonialism, Uganda’s president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said.
Museveni criticized the constant United Nations’ intervention in African affairs to reactionary leaders and has described it as a shame to the continent.
He was last evening addressing a session of the East African Legislative Assembly in Kigali today at the invitation of the East African community Legislative assembly speaker Hon. Margaret Zziwa.
The President who is the chairperson of EAC told the assembly that interventions by the world body is a shame to Africa because it is necessitated by reactionary leaders who undermine national institutions and the other pillars of the state leading to state authority collapse to the detriment of the people.
‘I cannot call in the United Nation to restore peace and order in Uganda. If I do then what are we for as a leaders, ‘he wondered to the applause of the assembly members.
Museveni added that it is this ideological disorientation that cannot allow the reactionaries to build viable and capable state pillars such as the army, civil service, judiciary leading to the collapse of the state authority and as a result any slight disturbance or challenge leads to collapse. He explained that under such situations, killings, raping, defilement, looting and all sorts of crime with impunity are committed by a lot of people.
President Yoweri Museveni who is also the Chairperson of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State was delivering the annual State of EAC Address at a Special Sitting of the assembly.
The East African Legislative Assembly resumed business last week holding its Plenary in Kigali, Rwanda. The Plenary which started on Monday, April 15, 2013 and will end on Thursday, April 25, 2013 is the Fifth Meeting of the First Session of the Third Assembly. President Paul Kagame had initially addressed the Special Sitting on Tuesday.
The State of EAC Address is delivered once a year by the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State. The address espouses on matters of policy and sets momentum and impetus for the integration process.
The Assembly presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon (Dr) Margaret Nantongo Zziwa and is discussing matters of legislative business including debating on the following Bills and deliberations; One Stop Border Post Bill; EAC Vehicle Control Bill; receive and consider reports from various Committees of the Assembly and consider Motions
and Questions brought before the House.
Museveni stressed the importance of the East African political integration, adding that it is only through a political federation that the benefits of an economic block can be reaped better and consolidated. He said that with a political government the East African people can bargain better with the developed countries over their natural resources. He disclosed that in his attempts to get favorable conditions for Uganda’s resources, he has faced blackmail from some players.
He said, ‘There are even attempts at playing us against each other. You hear words like if you do not agree to these terms, your neighbors will leave you behind,’ he said.
Another important factor that can be effectively addressed under a one roof arrangement, Museveni pointed out is that it is easy to address the issue of common defence.
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