Students under the East African community [EAC] chapter at Kampala International University have joined the rest of the EAC member states to condemn the ongoing civil conflict in the Embattled DR Congo and demanded authorities to resolve the crisis
The development came to light recently when the members invited the Minister for EAC affairs Dr. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to brief them about the current status quo of the community and share possible solutions for a brighter EAC future.
The cordial engagement took place at the KIU Basajjabala Memorial Library auditorium attended by over 300 students who got excited to associate with their sector minister.
The meeting started with a prayer dedicated at wishing the minister a long lease of life as she walked her journey of serving the EAC community.
Students told Dr.Kadaga how they were disappointed by the EAC leaders of whom they accused of doing little or nothing at all in attempting to come up with strong, practical and workable resolutions that contribute towards lasting peace in the DR Congo conflict which continues claiming hundreds of innocent lives largely comprising of women, children and the elderly.
They called upon the leaders to boldly handle the crisis with care such that the conflict does not harm the civilians
OTHER RESOLUTIONS FOR THE EAC
The students demanded to know why both the key EAC political federation and monetary union have failed to take off despite several years of negotiations.
Kadaga in response noted with disappointment that she was also equally disappointed by the delay however noted that she was optimistic that Uganda shall continue to lobby for at least a Political Confederation as opposed to a Federation as individual countries have mixed reactions to its genuine and honest implementation.
‘Am also disappointed that as we prepare to celebrate the 25 years of EAC integration this year, some member states clandestinely have reportedly failed to support the practical implementation of the EAC political Federation’ lamented Kadaga.
She however proposed that at least members should go for the Confederation temporarily instead as each sorts themselves out to have a new future federation which is a very good, productive and development oriented vehicle that could harness peace, tranquility and unity among the over 300 million EAC people.
Turning to the controversial EAC monetary union, the minister again noted with dismay that it was her wish that the EAC members should effectively consider implementing the single EAC currency use concurrently with respective individual country official currency until that right time in the near future where all can finally embrace the one currency for the EAC.
She however positively revealed that the main battlefield challenge was the disagreement by member states about which member should host the Monetary training institution and the EAC Bank which until are resolved, nothing much can happen.
‘Its still a tough journey to move as members are not agreeing as to who should house the Bank training institute and the main Bank which incident remains a major obstacle in the effective realization of this monetary union animal’ noted Kadaga.
‘ It’s my humble prayer that member states should not wait longer in implementing the joint currency usage but need to allow the partial implementation such that countries can use it alongside their local currency as a deliberate strategy of promoting interstate trade and development such that gradually it picks in the future for the common good of all citizens’ she pleaded.
