Kigali, 29 March 2019 - President Kagame, who is also the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, on Thursday called for increased ownership and accountability in the East African Community and to remove all obstacles that still hinder the community’s projects. 

President Kagame was delivering his opening remarks at the one-day Strategic Retreat of the Council of Ministers and Heads of Organs and Institutions of the East African Community, EAC, convening in Kigali.

"We urgently need to get our house in order, both in terms of ownership, which includes paying our respective dues as well as enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of the institution.  This is the only way to maintain integrity internally as well as credibility with our citizens and our partner institutions. It will be very difficult to achieve even the more simple goals we have set if we don’t get this right. We have to urgently unblock obstacles in ongoing projects and to allow ourselves to finish the good work we have started together.  Many of these require little more than political will. Even small triumphs generate so much goodwill and increase the trust of our people in the EAC. So why deprive ourselves of success that we need, and that is within reach? The Single Customs Territory and EAC Common Higher Education are examples of interventions that directly benefit all our people and create popular momentum for deeper phases of our integration.  There is nothing wrong with being ambitious." President Kagame added.

Rwanda, as the current East African Community (EAC) Chair, has convened a Strategic Retreat of the EAC Council of Ministers and Heads of EAC organs and institutions, aimed at brainstorming, planning and strategizing on how better the EAC can deliver on its core objectives.

"We know our region and what needs to be done to be part of this forward movement. So we cannot afford to be left behind, or be the ones to delay the rest of Africa. In fact, the East African Community has what it takes to actually lead this process. Our goal is to be a dynamic, prosperous, people-centered, private sector led region. We have to facilitate by listening to what the business community and ordinary citizens are telling us, and find a way to meet their expectations. Only by working together, will we spur innovation, create employment and generate the wealth needed to transform East Africa. As we approach the 20th anniversary of the renewal of the EAC, getting these things right, and steering the Community in the right direction is the best gift we can give the citizens of East Africa." President Kagame added

The strategic retreat is designed to help in delivering value on important aspects of the EAC integration, and will be divided into three (3) sessions: State of implementation of the EAC integration pillars; Management and coordination of EAC organs and institutions in advancing the integration agenda; Role and expectations of the private sector and civil society in the EAC integration.

Participants to the Retreat will adopt a report containing recommendations and the timeline of their implementation.

The report will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and to EAC organs and institutions for consideration and implementation. The Chairperson of the Council will present a progress report at every EAC summit. 

Participants to the retreat in Kigali are also scheduled to join Rwanda Government officials as well as residents of Kicukiro District in the monthly community exercise “Umuganda” on Saturday March 30 2019 at the Nyanza Genocide Memorial.