In a bid to promote stronger cross border interactions and community engagements, the EAC Secretariat, in collaboration with East Africa Local Governments Association (EALGA), the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the German International Development Agency (GIZ), organized a fun-filled sports and cultural festival at Cyanika town on the border of the Republics of Rwanda and Uganda over the weekend.
Following up on the recommendations of the 21st Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning meeting in October 2014, which recommended that the activities in the concept note to declare 2015 as the year of the “East African Citizen” be implemented as sensitization programmes; the Festival aimed at engaging ordinary citizens of the EAC Partner States about the privileges available to them, as well as providing a platform on which they can meet, share, have fun and interact as one community under the EAC.
Local dancers from Rwanda entertaining the festival- goers.
Bringing together over 1,300 festival-goers, the town of Cyanika was painted in an array of sports, including football, volleyball and cycling, cultural expressions and artistry from Uganda and Rwanda. The Festival was graced by Mr. Sam Byibeshyo, the Lord Mayor of Kisoro town, Uganda and Mr. Samuel Sembagare, the Lord Mayor of Burera district-Northern Provence, Rwanda. Other attendees included government officials from the district regional offices in Kisoro, Uganda and Burera, Rwanda, police and immigration officers from the local border authorities, women and young traders.
“This is an exciting step forward for the Community in getting East Africans more engaged in the integration process,” said Mr. Owora Richard Othieno, EAC’s Principal Information and Public Relations Officer. “We hope that after today, other border communities will initiative similar activities at their border points,” he said.
Children showing-off their dance moves during the Festival.
The year of the East African Citizen is in line with the EAC Consultative Dialogue Framework which ensures continuous dialogue between the EAC Secretariat, Organs and Institutions, Local governments Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Private Sector Organizations (PSOs) and other Interest Groups both at the national and regional level.
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