Regional ministers in charge of security will today convene in Kigali to discuss and review the security situation in the region and agree on the way forward. ‘’The challenges posed by terrorism, currently one of the most potent threats to the region, underscores the critical role of security in facilitating free and safe movement of persons and goods,’’ said Dr Julius Rotich, EAC Deputy Secretary General in Charge of Political Federation.Other threats are trafficking of arms, organised crimes, piracy, and possession of illegal arms, vehicle thefts and cyber crime.Security tops the region’s agenda especially in the recent advent of East Africa Community Common Market, the second stage of the regional integration.The first stage was of Customs Union which came into force in 2005. Currently, the Partner States are negotiating the implementation of a monetary union.The other issue set to be deliberated is the choice of the Regional Referral Forensic Centre (RFCC).The meeting of the EAC Partner States Chiefs of Police over the weekend backed Uganda to host it.However, as a matter of procedure, it has to be endorsed by the Ministerial Sector.Forensic science can help prove the guilt or innocence of the defendant and it is expected that with the establishment of such a regional facility, the fight against criminal activities will be scaled up in all five EAC partner states.Currently, all Partner States either have limited forensic capacity and capability or have to send samples overseas.Also on the agenda is the issue of heavy donor dependence in implementing EAC’s security programmes.During the opening the Inter-State Sectoral Council Senior Officials meeting in Kigali last week, Dr Rotich disclosed that about 95 per cent of the EAC security sector’s programmes are donor supported.‘’We must review this so as to own our security programmes and for its sustainability,’’ he was quoted as saying.He further observed that the region had a multiplicity of peace and security organisations, adding that it was imperative to forestall any duplication and wastage of resources.
