The EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko days ago said the drafting of the East African Community (EAC) Political Confederation Constitution requires US$4.8 billion (about Shs17.760 trillion)
“It is an expensive project requiring substantial financial investment. So far, we have been behind the schedules in the process due to insufficient financial allocation for this project. In our estimation, the process of drafting the Constitution will require resources to the tune of US$4.8 billion,” Mfumukeko said on Monday at the launch of the National Stakeholders Consultations in Entebbe.
The SG urged the Summit of EAC Heads of State to consider a special funding arrangement to enable the completion of the project in good time, adding that the National Stakeholders Consultations would ensure participation of EAC citizens in the integration process and particularly the Political Federation pillar.
“The drafting of the EAC Political Confederation is being undertaken by a team of Constitutional Experts nominated by the Partner States. The 18-member team is chaired by Justice Dr. Benjamin Odoki, the Chief Justice Emeritus of the Uganda. He said the Confederation Constitution development process was projected to be completed in 2022 with its adoption by the Summit.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who was chosen by his EAC peers to spearhead the drafting of the constitution launched the National Stakeholders Consultations in Entebbe.
He underscored the importance of the EAC attaining a Political Federation, adding that the Political Confederation was a transitional model to the Political Federation as enshrined in the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC.
Museveni said that the Political Federation would re-energise efforts to promote the prosperity of all East Africans which can be attained through trade and economic growth.
He said that the Political Federation would also guarantee the strategic security of smaller member countries of the Community against external threats.He further cited fraternity of all East Africans noting that the peoples of the East African region share similar cultures, languages and origins with Kiswahili as a lingua franca.
Justice (retired) Odoki, disclosed that the team had already completed a comprehensive study of various confederations around the world for purposes of appreciating the concept and practice of confederations.
Odoki further said that the team had also finalised a study and analysing of the EAC establishment.
The Political Federation is the fourth and ultimate pillar in the EAC integration process after the Customs Union, the Common Market and the East African Monetary Union. In May 2017, the Summit of EAC Heads of State agreed on the Political Confederation as a transitional model to the Political Federation.
In February 2018, the Summit through the Council of Ministers constituted a team of 18 Constitutional Experts and Legislative Draftspersons to draft a Constitution for the Political Confederation. The team was tasked with developing a Draft Constitution for consideration by the Summit. At its 20th Ordinary Meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania in February 2019, the Summit requested the team to provide it with a preliminary report by November 2019.
