Heads of State of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the management of the Northern Corridor Air Space bloc.

Presidents Paul Kagame and his counterparts Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda signed the deal at the 8th Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

Also part of the deal is South Sudan, which was represented by Vice-President James Wani Igga, who also signed on the MoU.

In a joint statement issued at the closure of the summit, the leaders said the move would contribute to the development of the infrastructure for transmission, power trade, and reduction in the cost of air travel in the region.

"The Heads of State appreciated the conclusion of the Power Purchase and Wheeling Agreements and the signed MOU on Management of Northern Corridor Air Space bloc.

"They noted the contribution these will deliver in the development of the infrastructure for transmission, power trade, and reduction in the cost of air travel in the region,” the communiqué read in part.

The presidents directed Rwanda’s Minister for Infrastructure to convene a meeting of Airline Industry stakeholders to finalise negotiations on the 5th Freedom Traffic Rights on Entebbe-Nairobi-Juba-Nairobi by December 31 and address all outstanding issues to reduce the cost of air travel in the region and report to the next Summit.

Also in attendance, as observers, were Leontine Nzeyima, Burundi’s minister for East African affairs; Habtamu Baye Chekole, special envoy of the President of Ethiopia; and Samuel Sita, Tanzania’s minister for EAC affairs.

The presidents also noted with "appreciation the progress registered and renewed their commitment to fast-tracking the implementation of the infrastructure projects for transforming the Northern Corridor.”

The leaders meanwhile congratulated Kenyans on the occasion of the 51st Independence Anniversary due to be marked today.

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