KAMPALA – Nyabushozi County Member of Parliament Wilson Kajwengye called on Members of Parliament to take a more active role in promoting and fast-tracking East African integration, saying the responsibility should not be left to ministers alone.
While contributing to a parliamentary debate in the House of Parliament, Kajwengye said regional integration remained essential to the future and prosperity of African people, particularly those in East Africa.
He congratulated and commended the Minister for East African Affairs, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, for the efforts towards advancing the regional integration agenda.
Kajwengye observed that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had consistently championed regional integration, not only within East Africa but across the African continent.
He said Uganda’s leadership in the integration process should inspire Parliament and other institutions to remain actively involved in advancing the regional agenda.
The legislator noted that Parliament had an important legal and institutional responsibility in shaping policies that support integration, adding that Uganda also elected nine representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) as part of its regional engagement.
He welcomed the Speaker’s proposal for Parliament to receive regular updates on the progress, challenges and opportunities surrounding East African integration.
According to Kajwengye, consistent updates would enable legislators to understand the obstacles facing the integration process and identify practical ways through which Parliament could contribute to addressing them.
He further urged the Speaker and Members of Parliament to use parliamentary diplomacy to engage their counterparts and other leaders across the region, including Speakers of Parliament and cabinet ministers, to strengthen cooperation.
Kajwengye argued that regional integration should become a shared responsibility involving all leaders and institutions rather than remaining the exclusive mandate of ministers responsible for East African Affairs.
He also challenged legislators to use regional sporting events and other engagements as opportunities to discuss integration issues with their counterparts, instead of concentrating only on recreational activities.
He concluded by emphasising that East African integration represented the region’s future and called on Parliament to remain at the forefront of efforts to accelerate the process.
