PRESIDENT MUSEVENI LAUNCHES NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIONS TO DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR EAC POLITICAL CONFEDERATION

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday, 18^th November, 2019 at the launch of the National Stakeholders Consultations to Draft the Constitution for the East African Community Political Confederation at State House, Entebbe, Uganda.

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday, 18^th November, 2019 launched the National Stakeholders Consultations to Draft the Constitution for the East African Community Political Confederation at State House, Entebbe, Uganda.

President Museveni underscored the importance of the EAC attaining a Political Federation, adding that the Political Confederation was a transitional model to the Political Federation as enshrined in the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC.

President Museveni said that the Political Federation would re-energise efforts to promote the prosperity of all East Africans which can be attained through trade and economic growth.

The Head of State said that the Political Federation would also guarantee the strategic security of smaller member countries of the Community against external threats.He further cited fraternity of all East Africans noting that the peoples of the East African region share similar cultures, languages and origins with Kiswahili as a lingua franca. 

In his remarks, EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said that the National Stakeholders Consultations would ensure participation of EAC citizens in the integration process and particularly the Political Federation pillar.

“The drafting of the EAC Political Confederation is being undertaken by a team of Constitutional Experts nominated by the Partner States. The 18-member team is chaired by Hon. Justice Dr. Benjamin Odoki, the Chief Justice Emeritus of the Uganda,” said Amb. Mfumukeko, adding that the Confederation Constitution development process was projected to be completed in 2022 with its adoption by the Summit.

Amb. Mfumukeko said that the development of the Constitution for the EAC Political Confederation was a political process that requires high levels of inclusion and participation of stakeholders.

“Consequently, it is an expensive project requiring substantial financial investment. So far, we have been behind the schedules in the process due to insufficienct financial allocation for this project. In our estimation, the process of drafting the Constitution will require resources to the tune of US$4.8 milion,” said the SG.

The SG urged the Summit of EAC Heads of State to consider a special funding arrangement to enable the completion of the project in good time.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Team of Constitutional Experts, Hon. Justice (retired) Dr. Benjamin Odoki, disclosed that the team had already completed a comprehensive study of various confederations around the world for purposes of appreciating the concept and practice of confederations.

Hon. Justice Odoki further said that the team had also finalised a study and analysing of the EAC establishment.   

The Political Federation is the fourth and ultimate pillar in the EAC integration process after the Customs Union, the Common Market and the East African Monetary Union. In May 2017, the Summit of EAC Heads of State agreed on the Political Confederation as a transitional model to the Political Federation.

In February 2018, the Summit through the Council of Ministers constituted a team of 18 Constitutional Experts and Legislative Draftspersons to draft a Constitution for the Political Confederation. The team was tasked with developing a Draft Constitution for consideration by the Summit. At its 20^th Ordinary Meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania in February 2019, the Summit requested the team to provide it with a preliminary report by November 2019.