President Yoweri Museveni who is also the current chairman of the East African Community has left for Brussels (Belgium) with a the delegation from the East African Community members states to discuss the issue of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with European Union (EU) that has stalled.
The President was seen off at Entebbe International Airport by Esther Mbayo, the Minister for Presidency, Mr. John Mitala Head of Public Service, General Kale Kayihura Inspector General of Police and Johnson Byabasaija Commissioner General Prison Services.
In previous meeting, EAC heads of State have expressed the need to resolving disagreements regarding EPA including EU sanctions on one of its members Burundi which were imposed without consulting the regional body and the decision by the United Kingdom to exit the EU. The UK is among leading investors in EAC and in Africa. President Museveni said before, that EAC countries still need clarifications on several issues contained in EPA before ratification.
According to reports, upon leaving the EU, the UK will leave EU trade agreements and African countries will lose any preferential access to the UK market that those agreements currently confer. Africa accounted for 5.1 of the global gross domestic product (GDP), compared to 2.4 per cent for the UK as part of the EU.
