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| Kigali Rwanda |
The
East African Communications Organization (EACO) Secretariat was yesterday
formally launched in Kigali, 14 months after Rwanda was chosen to host its
permanent head offices. The organization through its board of directors has
since been carrying out its duties but with no permanent offices.
EACO is a
regional body that brings together regulatory, postal, telecommunications and
broadcasting organizations in the East African Community (EAC). The secretariat
will temporarily be hosted at RURA offices as plans to relocate to permanent
offices for the regional ICT organization get underway. Rwanda was in May last
year unanimously chosen to host the head offices of the regional communication
body during the 18th assembly of the EACO held in Kigali.
Speaking at the
event, Rwanda's Minister of EAC Affairs, Monique Mukaruliza,
said the development was an important milestone in the regional integration
that reflected the commitment of EACO members to realise their goals without
the intervention of the EAC council of ministers.
"Every
time we hold council of ministers meetings, we look at the protocols we have
signed, decisions we have taken and we ask ourselves about the progress we have
made. Are we sure that the EAC people have started benefiting from the regional
integration we are talking about? So this is really a testimony that East
Africans can organize themselves. With this, we have already achieved
integration," she explained.
Mukaruliza
pledged Rwanda's support towards the realization of EACO's mandate in the
region. The event held at RURA premises and Serena Hotel, respectively, brought
together among others Ministers responsible for EAC affairs and ICTs from EAC
partner countries, EACO members, regulators and development partners from the
region.
The EACO aims at
promoting cooperation and development of the communication sector within EAC
bloc. "Our dream of integration to achieve unity, development and
cooperation is becoming a reality and this is demonstrated through the
establishment of EACO secretariat," said Salvator
Nizigiyimana, Chairman of EACO.
Nizigiyimana, who
is also the Director General of Burundi's Regulatory Authority for
Telecommunications (ARCT), noted that the secretariat would be the engine to
enhance regional development through promotion of communications and integrated
inclusions and will deliver the expectations of the EAC member states in ICT.
Rwanda's
Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, said: "It's an honour
and pleasure for Rwanda to be hosting the secretariat of EACO especially
regarding the organisation's mission of building a digital East African village
connected to the global information and communication, economy and
society."
"We all know
the role ICT is playing and is expecting to play as far as the social economic
transformation of our region is concerned and as well as fighting poverty. So
this is a big achievement to the regional ICT sector," he noted.
The Secretariat
will be headed by Hodge Semakula who would serve as the organisation's Chief
Executive Officer. EACO has three departments each headed by a manager - Legal
and Advisory Services, ICT Assemblies, and Human Resources and Administration.
"Rwanda
as a host and RURA feel proud to have honoured the commitments to facilitate
the establishment of EACO secretariat in Kigali after 14 months since the
decision was taken," the Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory
Agency, Regis Gatarayiha, commented.
According to
Kenya's Assistant Minister of Information and Communications, George Khaniri,
the Kenyan government is fully committed to the initiative and would do
everything possible to ensure that the organisation's mandate becomes a
success.
"We know the
economic challenges are enormous. The willingness to set up a solid
communications body is very much alive and will encourage all of us to maintain
the momentum and build a robust communication sector within the EAC," he
observed.
Originally known
as the East Africa Regulatory, Postal and Telecommunications Organisation
(EARPTO), EACO is a public, private partnership with the sole aim of improving
access to affordable and quality communication services to the people of East
Africa.
The New Times Rwanda