Uganda Hosts EAC Conference on Good Governance
KAMPALA---A three-day conference whose theme is “Upholding the Rule of Law and Constitutionalism for the Promotion of Regional Integration” kicked off today at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala. It is organized by the EAC Secretariat and will build on the momentum from the two previous conferences.
More than 200 participants drawn from the East African Community Partner States’ Ministries, Parliamentarians, the Judiciary, Governance institutions, regional and international organizations, academia and civil society are attending the third EAC annual Conference on Good Governance .
The first conference was held in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, in January, 2009 under the theme “Promoting Good Governance for Regional Integration” and the second in Nairobi, Kenya in August, 2010 under the theme “Good Governance for Sustainable Integration, Stability and Development”.
Uganda’s Vice President H.E Dr Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi is expected to formally open the meeting. ”Discussion on issues of governance is more pertinent now as EAC integration moves fast towards the establishment of a Political Federation,” said the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Hon. Beatrice Kiraso.
The objective of the annual conference, she added, was to promote continuous debate and advocacy at the highest levels of political leadership to underscore good governance if regional integration is to be strong and sustainable.
Major papers to be discussed include those on constitutionalism and Rule of Law as Foundation for Good Governance; Constitutionalism and Administration of Justice in the regional context; and the Role of Regional Judicial Mechanisms in upholding Good Governance in East Africa.
The conference will also discuss Constitutional Reforms in the context of regional integration borrowing practical experiences from Kenya and also look at the ongoing process in Tanzania. “Like all other policy issues, the EAC is trying to set similar benchmarks and standards of governance and democracy-related issues against which the region will be able to measure its performance,” said Hon. Kiraso.
The Conference is attended by Attorneys General, Ministers responsible for Justice and Constitutional Affairs; Good Governance, Ethics and Integrity; Internal /Home Affairs and those responsible for EAC Affairs.
It is also attended by Heads of National Institutions from all Partner States, including those from National Assemblies; Law Reform Commissions; Inspectorates of Government/Anti-Corruption agencies; Human Rights Commissions; National Electoral Commission as well as law enforcement offices.
Other participants are from regional organs—East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and non-EAC organizations, including the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) ,the Civil Society Organizations; Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU).
Article 6(d) of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community provides for upholding the fundamental principles of good governance including adherence to the rule of law, accountability, transparency and respect for human rights, gender equality and equal opportunities. To this end, the EAC continues to initiate policies and develop instruments geared towards promoting the above principles. It is worth noting that through a decision of the EAC Council of Ministers, the EAC has developed a Protocol on Good Governance whose key pillars are:-
a) Constitutionalism, Rule of Law and Access to Justice;
b) Protection of Human Rights and Promotion of Equal Opportunities;
c) Democracy and Democratization process;
d) Combating Corruption and enhancing Ethics and Integrity;
e) Separation of Powers; and
f) Economic and Corporate Governance.
SOURCE
East African Community (EAC)