Overview of the Ministry of East Africa
Community Affairs (MEACA)
By
Edith N. Mwanje
Permanent Secretary
at
Kampala International University
8th May, 2010
Ministry of East African Community Affairs
Overview
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About MEACA
Stakeholder Expectations of MEACA
Key Achievements & Challenges
We listen
We need your support
www.meaca.go.ug
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MEACA History and Mandate
2004
•Summit decision established Ministries of EAC at
country level in accordance with Article 8 (3) of Treaty
for Establishment of the EAC
2006
•Department of EAC Affairs is established with mandate
to promote Uganda’s interests, coordinate and act as
focal point on all matters of EA Integration
2007
•MEACA becomes fully fledged Ministry with a vote and
own Accounting Officer
www.meaca.go.ug
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MEACA Vision and Mission
Our Vision:
A prosperous, stable and politically united
East Africa
Our Mission:
To promote Uganda’s interest in pursuit of East
African Regional Integration
www.meaca.go.ug
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Strategic Objectives
2009-2014
1. Provide strategic leadership, guidance and
support for EAC integration; ensure
mainstreaming of EAC issues in NDP, sectoral
plans and budgets
2. Ensure key EAC institutions & organs meet
needs of Uganda & other Partner States
3. Enhance awareness & increase active
participation of Public, Private sector, CSOs &
other stakeholders in EAC integration
4. Ensure timely, effective implementation of EAC
decisions, policies, and programmes
5. Build MEACA’s capacity to effectively coordinate
the EAC agenda in Uganda
www.meaca.go.ug
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MEACA Core Functions
Coordinate
Harmonise
Maintain
linkages
Liaise
Monitor
Follow up
www.meaca.go.ug
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Stakeholder Expectations
Communicate
& Liaise with
stakeholders
about EAC
Coordinate
harmonisation
of EAC
Policies and
Programmes
Strategic
Leadership
and guidance
on EAC
integration
Build Capacity
Raise
awareness on
EAC
integration
MEACA
www.meaca.go.ug
Monitor &
Evaluate
implementation
of EAC
decisions
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Key Achievements
• Staffing and equipping MEACA from 2006 to
now.
• Hosting 5th EAC 2007 Extraordinary Summit
Rwanda and Burundi accented to EAC Treaty.
• EAC/SADC/COMESA 2008 Tripartite Summit
– Free Trade Area (FTA)
– Infrastructure
www.meaca.go.ug
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Key Achievements Cont.
• Regional Conference on Peace and Security,
Oct 2009;
• Coordinating HLTF preparatory meetings;
engaging the Public, Private Sector,MDAs,
Ambassadors;
• Developing a strategic Plan,
• Communication Strategy. It covers, target
groups, messages, budgets etc.
www.meaca.go.ug
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Key Achievements Cont.
• Coordinating Uganda’s participation in signing
Common Market Protocol, 20th Nov. 2009.
• Attracting New EAC Institutions, eg. CASSOA
• Ratification of the CM Protocol in April 2010.
www.meaca.go.ug
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Key Challenges
Low awareness, low
knowledge of the
integration agenda
among the citizenry
Resource Capacity to
fulfill the mandate
Mainstreaming EAC
Agenda across the board
in civil society, private
and public sectors
Limited Budget affects
Uganda’s participation in
EAC activities
www.meaca.go.ug
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MEACA Listens
Concerns Raised
Our Response & Action
Awareness of EAC issues &
progress is still low
Communication strategy has
been developed.
Implementation has started
and EAC Information will
cascade to all stakeholders.
Provide regular updates to the
media, students, CSOs etc, to
facilitate understanding of EAC
issues
Today’s workshop is one of
such endeavours to
understand EAC issues.
Create Contact Points for MDAs
and Private Sector for enquiries
and clarifications
Public Relations Officer now
in place, working closely with
Ag. Director
Provide messages that target
the ordinary person on the
ground
Focus is on issues that affect
ordinary people directly –
employment, education,
security etc.
www.meaca.go.ug
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Working together
• Engage actively and participate in the EAC
Regional Integration process
• Give us feedback and observations freely & regularly
• Take advantage of the opportunities available
• Prioritise EA regional issues
• Include EAC topics in your curriculum.
• Hold public lecturers and invite resource persons on EAC
Integration
• Spread the message on EAC.
• Research more on EAC issues
• Get a strong understanding of regional integration
• Use MEACA resources freely and openly – Resource Centre
being established
www.meaca.go.ug
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Thank You
www.meaca.go.ug
www.meaca.go.ug
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