July 1st was an important day in this history of East Africa. It marked the commencement of the implementation of the Common Market Protocol - a process that allows the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons across the borders of the five member states.

The protocol opens up numerous opportunities that will enable Ugandans to enjoy greater freedoms.

The day might have passed without notice by many and yet it's a bold one that may change our society and our work ethics. However for us to be able to benefit from the process, we must change our attitudes so that we are not left behind by the tide that is sweeping across the region.

As Ugandans this is not the time to cry. Instead we should start to ask ourselves as individuals or as business organizations the hard questions. What can you sell in the market? What is your advantage? Are you innovative and creative in order to tap into the opportunities brought about by the Common Market.

East Africa is a market of 127 million people with a combined growth domestic product of US $73 billion. We must congratulate our leaders for having ratified the protocol in record time.

But we must also remind them that as they implement the common market, they must walk their talk and put in place the necessary conditions that will facilitate its operation.

In order to have a meaningful and equitable common market, the leaders need to embark on a serious exercise of harmonizing national laws such as those pertaining to taxation, competition, residence and land in order to allow businesses to flourish.

They also need to build strong political, legal and economic institutions that will facilitate the implementation of the protocol and resolution of disputes.

History suggests that it was the lack of strong institutions to resolve disputes on sharing proceeds from the community that partly accounted for the collapse of the East African Community back in 1977. Such institutions need to be established under a climate of democracy.

Fortunately, the region has taken tremendous steps to anchor itself in democracy which should help build the foundation for the success of the common market. Rwandans are scheduled to elect to take part in the first multi-party elections.

Kenyans could also have a new constitution if the 'YES' camp manages to secure enough votes in forthcoming referendum on August 4, 2010.

Here in Uganda the Electoral Commission has just released elections roadmap for the 2011 general elections.

The community also needs to have common court that has jurisdiction over matters like governance, corruption and it should be empowered to punish errant leaders who may want derail the integration.

What we are now waiting for is that all the five partner states embark on a vigorous exercise of domesticating the provisions of the protocol. Our Members of Parliament both from the national parliament as well as the East African Legislative Assembly should also use the political season to reach out to the Wanaichi and sensitize them about the benefits of this market.

Without this much-needed awareness, we could soon start to hear people complaining of how unfair the thing is when foreigners have come and taken advantage of it when our people are sleeping.

I am sure there are challenges but they are not insurmountable. For our people have faced much bigger challenges including colonialism, slave trade and other types of domination at the hands of imperialists.

Stephen Asiimwe
The writer is a Pan Africanist blog comments powered by Disqus

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