President Museveni Acknowledges Pan-Africanist Contributions to EAC Growth
President Yoweri Museveni met with a delegation from the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, led by Secretary General Dr. Peter Mathuki at State House Entebbe. During the meeting, President Museveni expressed his appreciation for the significant role played by Pan-African leaders in the formation and advancement of the East African Community (EAC).
Museveni specifically praised the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, former President of Tanzania, and the late Kwame Nkrumah, former President of Ghana, for their dedication to the EAC’s development. He emphasized that it was due to the commitment of these Pan-African heroes that the dream of establishing the EAC became a reality.
He stated, “This is not a personal commitment but the movement of Pan-Africanists led by Mwalimu Nyerere here and Nkrumah on our side. And then we had the puppets like Njonjo who were influenced by the Europeans that sabotaged our ideas; we could have even formed our federation.” Museveni went on to explain that certain individuals, like Njonjo, convinced leaders such as Kenyatta to withdraw their support, which hindered the EAC’s progress.
Dr. Mathuki expressed gratitude to President Museveni for his substantial contribution to the continuous growth and expansion of the EAC. He stated, “Your Excellency, we always reflect on your speeches, and they keep encouraging us to move towards uniting the EAC into a bigger and stronger region.”
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising seven partner states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The meeting was also attended by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, the Minister of State for Defense, Jacob Oboth Oboth, and other officials.
Meeting Participants:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| President Yoweri Museveni | President of Uganda |
| Dr. Peter Mathuki | Secretary General, EAC |
| Rebecca Kadaga | First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs |
| Jacob Oboth Oboth | Minister of State for Defense |
| Various other officials | – |
