IGAD Countries Near Integration

[Jacaylbaro]

By Ben Okiror

 

PLANS to integrate countries belonging to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have been finalised.

 

The executive secretary, Eng. Mahboub Maalim, said there is need to for free movement of people and harmonisation of policies among member countries.

 

“What should be done by the political leaders is to approve the plan,” he said. Some border communities are already doing cross-border businesses.”

 

He said Euros 1m (sh2.5b) had been earmarked for strengthening the system. Staff will be hired on the basis of performance.

 

Maalim was recently speaking at the opening of the 8th meeting of the committee of permanent secretaries at the Speke Resort, Munyonyo. He called for the creation of an IGAD-based free trade area.

 

In his speech, regional co-operation state minister Isaac Musumba, said Uganda would support all attempts to revitalise IGAD.

 

He said the Government had made progress in disarming Karimojong pastoralists because of collaboration with neighbouring Kenya.

 

“Efforts to disarm the Karimojong were initially problematic. We would disarm the Karimojong but the Pokot would cross from Kenya to raid them.”

 

Musumba said through information sharing with Kenya there are coordinated measures to eliminate cattle rustling. As a result there are now very few guns involved in raids, he observed.

 

The Government has embarked on sensitising Karamoja communities to grow upland rice as an alternative form of livelihood, Musumba said.

 

This would help them settle down, enabling the Government to offer social services like education, unlike the days when they were mobile, Musumba added.

 

The technical committee on Conflict and Early Warning and Response Mechanism, at the same venue, received indices of the peace indicators which show that conflict indicators had declined from 75% in 2003 to 20% in 2008.

 

 

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[nuune]

What would it take for the Igad or 4 and so countries to form a single currency, and free trade between themselves, the EU did it.

 

Would that be possible, even the Arabs tried but they just want to keep their Dirhams and Dinaars.

[Jacaylbaro]

If Arabs can't do it what do you think of our Africans that are still struggling with hunger, wars and border issues.

 

If they are honest about it ,, i'm sure it doesn't take them much to do so.

[nuune]

But this is not whole of Africa, is only few Eastern Africans!

[Jacaylbaro]

Exactly ! ! ! ... Now don't even think about the whole Africa ,, only few countries can't do.