
Sep
KIU Holds Orientation for August Intake Postgraduate Students
September 16, 2024, 4:24 am
KIU, MAIN CAMPUS – On Tuesday, 29th January 2025, Kampala International University (KIU) hosted Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs in Uganda, for a public lecture themed 'EAC @ 25: Achievements, Challenges, and the Journey Ahead'.
The lecture aimed to sensitize masses about the East African Community (EAC) integration and offer students valuable insights into the community's vision, mission, and goals.
Proud to host EAC delegates headed by Rt. Hon. Kadaga, Prof. Muhammed Ngoma, Vice Chancellor, issued welcome remarks on behalf of the entire KIU community. Among the attendees were Dr. Mundu Musafa, Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration, Ms. Christine Ainebyoona, Campus Administrator, Dr. Jacob Ashibi, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, EAC members, and students.
Giving a brief about KIU, the leading private university in Uganda, Prof. Ngoma said, “We are proud that you have come to one of the top universities in East Africa. KIU has a university in Tanzania and two campuses in Uganda. This main campus here in Kansanga, Kampala and the Western Campus in Ishaka. The Western campus is a hub of Medical and Engineering Sciences”.
“So, were contributing greatly to the government’s initiative of promoting science and technology,” he added.
Dr. Andrew Musiime, Director in Uganda's Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Acting Permanent Secretary, and former KIU lecturer, shared with students the EAC's progress, highlighting the significant strides made since its inception.
“As a community, since the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community was signed in Arusha in 1999 and later entered into force in 2000 following the conclusion of the process of its ratification and deposit of the Instruments of Ratification with the Secretary-General by all the three Partner States (Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania), we have made 25 years,” said Dr. Musiime.
During the lecture, Rt. Hon. Kadaga emphasized that on 30th November 2025, EAC will celebrate 25 years of establishment. “The journey of the three Partner States, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania (then Tanganyika), has now grown to eight,” she added.
Despite advancements in integration and achievements attained over the years, such as improved trade and visa-free travel, EAC still faces numerous challenges. Hon. Kadaga noted that these challenges can be solved over time if partner countries continue to work together.
“One of the major challenges is trade. Each of the partner countries is doing more business with the European Union compared with each other. Intra-EAC trade has remained relatively low due to, among others, the imposition of non-tariff barriers by partner states. Nevertheless, efforts have been put in place to resolve these barriers and encourage partner states to refrain from imposing new ones in line with the commitment to the EAC Customs Union Protocol,” Hon. Kadaga said.
Regarding political instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has been plagued by conflict for more than 30 years, with M23 rebels tightening their grip on Goma—a major city in eastern DRC—Hon. Kadaga highlighted that stability in the region could be attained through the Political Federation and the East African Community Regional Force.
“EAC first deployed troops in DRC in 2022, and things had stabilized, but later, the DRC, which is a member of the integration, decided not to renew the force's mandate,” she added.
As the EAC continues to grow, Hon. Kadaga expressed optimism, saying, “We shall slowly get there.” She further explained that “So far, under the Common Market Protocol, we should not have work permits in partner states, but we have only made progress with the students.”
Concluding the lecture, Rt. Hon. Kadaga handed over gifts to KIU Vice Chancellor Prof. Ngoma.
About the EAC 25th Anniversary
The theme for the EAC’s 25th Anniversary commemoration is: EAC @ 25: Promoting Trade, Sustainable Development, and Peace and Security for Improved Livelihoods. EAC is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising eight partner states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
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