The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of 6 Partner States: the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The EAC is home to 150 million citizens, of which 22% is urban population. With a land area of 1.82 million square kilometres and a combined Gross Domestic Product of US$ 146 billion (EAC Statistics for 2016), its realisation bears great strategic and geopolitical significance and prospects for the renewed and reinvigorated EAC.

The work of the EAC is guided by its Treaty which established the Community. It was signed on 30 November 1999 and entered into force on 7 July 2000 following its ratification by the original three Partner States – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on 18 June 2007 and became full Members of the Community with effect from 1 July 2007. The Republic of South Sudan acceeded to the Treaty on 15 April 2016 and become a full Member on 15 August 2016.

As one of the fastest growing regional economic blocs in the world, the EAC is widening and deepening co-operation among the Partner States in various key spheres for their mutual benefit. These spheres include political, economic and social.

At the moment, the regional integration process is in full swing as reflected by the encouraging progress of the East African Customs Union, the establishment of the Common Market in 2010 and the implementation of the East African Monetary Union Protocol.

Our core responsibilities are captured in the Mandate, Mission and Vision.

Mandate

The Mandate of MEACA is to “steer Uganda’s regional integration agenda in accordance with the objectives of the Treaty for Establishment of East African Community”

Mission Statement

The Ministry exists “to ensure that Ugandans benefit from the East African Community integration

Vision Statement

The Vision of the Ministry is “prosperous people in a secure federated East Africa”

EAC History

Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have cooperated with each other since the early 20th century. The cooperation was manifested in different ways:

• The Customs Union between Kenya and Uganda in 1917, which the then Tanganyika later joined in 1927;
• The East African High Commission (1948-1961);
• The East African Common Services Organisation (1961-1967);
• The East African Community (1967-1977) and
• The East African Co-operation (1993-2000).

The current East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organization composed of six countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The EAC which initially composed of 3 members (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) was founded in 1967, but it collapsed in 1977. It was revived on 30th November 1999 when the treaty establishing the EAC was signed. That Treaty came into force on 7th July 2000.

Following the dissolution of the former East African Community in 1977, the Member States negotiated a Mediation Agreement for the division of Assets and Liabilities, which they signed in 1984.

However, as one of the provisions of the Mediation Agreement, the three Member States (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) agreed to explore areas of future co-operation and to make concrete arrangements for such co-operation.

Subsequent meetings of the three Heads of State led to the signing of the Agreement for the Establishment of the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation on 30 November 1993.

Full East African Co-operation operations started on 14th March 1996 when the Secretariat of the Permanent Tripartite Commission was launched at the Headquarters of the EAC in Arusha, Tanzania.

Considering the need to consolidate regional co-operation, the East African Heads of State, at their 2nd Summit in Arusha on 29th April 1997, directed the Permanent Tripartite Commission to start the process of upgrading the Agreement establishing the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation into a Treaty.

The Treaty-making process, which involved negotiations among the Member States as well as wide participation of the public, was successfully concluded within 3 years.

The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community was signed in Arusha on 30 November 1999.

The Treaty entered into force on 7th  July 2000 following the conclusion of the process of its ratification and deposit of the Instruments of Ratification with the Secretary-General by all the three Partner States.

Upon the entry into force of the Treaty, the East African Community came into being.

Government Of Uganda

Parliament of Uganda