East African member states should fast track the development of infrastructure to boost trade and investments in the region, the Ugandan Minister in charge of East African Community (EAC) affairs has said.

Eriya Kategaya told journalists recently, "Through the development of roads, railways, civil aviation and telecommunications, the EAC will not only realise higher standards of living in the region but also make the region competitive and attractive for sustainable investment.”

Kategaya said this while addressing reporters during a recently ended ministerial retreat on regional infrastructure development in Kampala. The meeting attracted members of the EAC Secretariat, transport and energy experts.

Ministers of Energy, Infrastructure and EAC Affairs also attended the retreat. The retreat come when the five member states, including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are about to establish a customs union.

When established, countries will have uniform tariff rates. With common market, it’s hoped free movement of goods and services within member states will be facilitated.

Participants agreed that there is no member country that has resources to single handedly develop its infrastructure described as in poor state, therefore need for urgent development or rehabilitation.

They advised member states to pool resources together. They also agreed on the need to ensure effective and timely implementation of agreed regional infrastructure projects and programmes in all the partner states.

"This will involve addressing inefficiencies in the processes of the procurement systems, time frames, project management, and quality assurance, among other problems faced in the development of the infrastructure projects,” a statement issued after the retreat reads in part.

Rwanda on course

Monique Mukaruliza, the minister in charge of East African Community Affairs said Rwanda has already embarked on a number of projects targeting to fast track regional infrastructure development.

She said the harmonisation process for full integration into the EAC has started. Citing that Rwanda is a member of the Northern Corridor and government is discussing with partner states on the existing project for efficient utilisation.

"We also recently signed memorandum of understanding with Uganda about extension of the oil pipeline and feasibility studies are now underway,” Mukaruliza said in an interview with The New Times.

She said Rwanda as a landlocked country is specifically interested in extension of the EAC Railways, development of the national airport and expansion of roads and oil pipeline among others.

The country has also already identified other priority areas of development in the process of regional infrastructural development.

Linda Bihire, Minister of Infrastructure said; "We already have two major projects. They include the extension of the Dar-es-Salaam railway from Isaka to Kigali and we have already started negotiations with the Tanzanian government and plans to construct a new international airport in Bugesera.” Feasibility studies have been carried out paving way for the tendering process.

"We have also stated rehabilitating roads connecting from Kigali to Kampala via Katuna and Kagitumba boarders,” she said.

As far as fast tracking of regional infrastructural projects is concerned, the regional railways master plan study is in the final stages while the East African Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) has already been established for the establishment of the Unified Upper Airspace Control Centre.

A joint declaration issued after the retreat says regional infrastructural projects will be approved for implementation at regional level for funding. This will be done during the forthcoming EAC heads of government meeting in June in Kigali.

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