A high ranking official from the East African Community (EAC) secretariat passed on Monday after a short illness that she reportedly suffered while on duty in Kampala a few days ago.

Isabelle Waffubwa, the Principal Political Affairs Officer at the Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania, was reportedly one of the strongest supporters of the bloc’s integration agenda, according to a statement from the EAC.

"Death robbed the EAC Secretariat, and the region as a whole, of a brilliant and ardent supporter of regional integration agenda,” read an EAC's post on Twitter.

"Isabelle held a strong positive view towards the EAC integration and development process, especially the ultimate goal of a political federation. May her soul rest in eternal peace.”

It is reported that Waffubwa breathed her last at Nairobi Hospital in Kenya.

Reports indicate that the deceased suffered a short illness in Kampala over the weekend while she and her team were to prepare for the EAC Election Observers team.

Former Tanzanian President Ali Hassan Mwinyi is leading an EAC team in Uganda to monitor the forthcoming general elections on behalf of the regional bloc.

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