The East Africa Community Secretary General Peter Mathuki has urged partner states to disburse in a timely manner, statutory contribution to the regional body.
This, he says will enable EAC to have funds to implement the approved budget as per the agreed timelines.
The Secretary General commended the partner states for complying with the provisions of the EAC Financial Rules and Regulations by supporting the regional body’s budget.
“While the mandate of the EAC has been expanding, the total budget as well as the amount that every partner state contributes to EAC has been reducing,” said Mathuki.
Mathuki made the remarks when he met Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda's first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC Affairs, on the current EAC status of the integration process.
Kadaga urged the Secretary General to use shuttle diplomacy to make sure that every partner states makes its contribution on time.
The regional body has been keen to intervene on Covid-19 challenges on regional trade and investments.
"Some of the interventions made by the Secretariat include the establishment of the Regional Electronic Cargo and Driver Tracking System (RECDTS), which facilitates free movement of people, goods and services," said Mathuki.
Kadaga commended the initiative of the Secretariat on the quarterly consultative meetings with individual partner states.
This, she said will help the partner States to follow closely the implementation of various programmes and projects, and minimize the workload of discussion during Council meetings.
“A regional approach is the only way that can save our people in containing the pandemic because of the opportunity it provides for sharing resources, information, training and testing,” said the minister.
During the meeting the EAC Director General Customs and Trade, Kenneth Bagamuhunda highlighted the achievements and challenges by various directorates and departments in addition to available opportunities.
