The Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers Hon. Dr. Diodorus Kamala, last Thursday 16 April 2010, at the Fourth Meeting of the Third Session at the Rwanda National Parliament denied allegations that the Issue and use of the East African Passport had been suspended.
The Minister was responding to a supplementary question raised by Hon. Margret Ziwa regarding the issuance and suspension said Passport. “Mr. Speaker, in the local dailies in our respective partner states, notable in the Monitor of 6th of April and the Citizen of 5th April 2010, it was reported that the Secretary General of the East African Community suspended the use of the East African Passport”.
Hon. Zziwa who had earlier been denied exit from Uganda to Kigali to attend the EALA meetings in Kigali, Rwanda using her EA Passport also wanted to know if the advantages of the said Passport that include, the easy movement of people and its affordable cost will “perhaps be catered for in another provision, which may be in place” the Hon Member asked.
In his response the Dr. Diodorus Kamala, informed the house that the Secretary General who is an ex officio Member of the EALA had been misquoted but a formal statement on the allegation will be made available as soon as possible “I am directing the Secretary General to issue a statement clarifying on what happened and how he was misquoted.” said Dr. Kamala.
The Minister further affirmed, “It is my hope that the same Partner States will immediately proceed issuing the said Passports”. The Minister assured the EALA Members that he was going to take up the issue and make a personal follow up in all Partner States to make sure that the smooth movement of people is not interrupted.
Background
The East African passports were introduced for issue as a travel document in all the three EAC partner states – Kenya Uganda and Tanzania nearly a decade ago by the original founders of the Community, to ease border crossing.
The passport is valid for travel within the EAC countries only and entitles the holder to a multi entry stay of renewable six months' validity in any of the countries unlike the National passports which have to be stamped at any exit and entry points to entitle the holder a single entry stay of up to three months'.
Modalities of internationalizing the East African passport for travel outside east Africa are being discussed with the aim towards having a common travel document for East Africans.
