By Ronaldo Kalangi
Uganda’s President (Rtd)Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has finally handed over East Africa community (EAC) Chairmanship to Rwanda’s Paul Kagame on Friday afternoon at EAC Summit in Arusha Tanzania.
Museveni has been the chairman of the EAC for two years.
The chairmanship position is rotational where each member country has to take the leadership.
While handing over chair, President Museveni encouraged the East African countries leadership to work harder for the unification of the region.
President Kagame, while receiving the leadership, thanked Mr. Museveni for playing a big role to unite East Africa.
On his new role as chairman, Kagame pledged commitment in ensuring the EAC member countries achieve a common goal.
The summit was also attended by President John Magufuli (T’z) and Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya).
Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza sent his first vice-president Gaston Sindimwo while South Sudanese leader Salva Kiir was represented by his foreign affairs minister.
The summit will run until next week and East African heads of states will address and tackle challenges affecting the region.
Meanwhile, the EAC heads of state tasked president Museveni to oversee the political federation of the bloc.
The resolution was announced by the EAC Secretary General,Liberat Mfumekeko at the closure of the 20th ordinary summit of the Heads of state at Arusha International Conference Centre, indicating that member states had nominated constitutional experts to guide the federation process.
President Museveni said the secretary General will now be responsible for offering political guidance to the team which is expected to present an interim report within seven months.
