Uganda, Kenya Enhance Regional Cooperation, Progress on NCIPs Initiatives Ahead of 15th Summit

Uganda National Coordinator of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIPs), Ambassador Richard Kabonero, held a meeting with his counterpart Abdi Dubat, the Kenya National Coordinator of NCIPs and Principal Secretary of the State Department for East African Community at the office of the Ministry of East African Community in Nairobi.

The meeting was convened at the invitation of Dubat to consult on the coordination efforts of reviving the NCIPs, take stock of the progress of implementation of the 14th Summit Directives in preparation for the 15th NCIPs Summit, agree on the action plan for convening pending NCIPs Cluster meetings and review the progress of implementation of the regional joint verification mechanism on status of the East Africa Tourism Visa (EATV) under the NCIPs Memorandum of Understanding.

The National Coordinators expressed satisfaction with the progress and commitment of the Partner States in reviving the NCIPs by convening several Cluster meetings of the ICT and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) chaired and coordinated by Uganda. The Principal Secretary commended Uganda for effectively coordinating and chairing the two Cluster meetings and the continued engagement with the Partner States on the implementation of the Summit directives.

The National Coordinators agreed to convene the NCIPs National Coordinators' meeting and pending Cluster meetings in May 2024 in Kampala in preparation for the 15th NCIPs Summit to be held later in the year. It was further agreed that Partner States will exchange the internal reconciliation reports on EATV ahead of the Regional Joint Verification meeting.

In attendance were senior officials responsible for NCIPs in Uganda and Kenya, including Evans P. Aryabaha (Charge D'Affaires a.i. at the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi) and Dr. Alice Yalla (Secretary for Integration at the State Department for EAC in Kenya).