Wetang'ula warns EAC arrests over travel documents threaten regional integration
Wetang’ula called on legislators across the region to enact laws that remove barriers to the free movement of people and trade, stressing that unity among member states is essential for regional prosperity.
The National Assembly has raised alarm over the repeated arrests of East African Community (EAC) citizens for lacking travel and work documents, warning that such practices threaten regional integration.
Speaking during the opening of the 15th EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games in Kampala, Uganda, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula called on legislators across the region to enact laws that remove barriers to the free movement of people and trade, stressing that unity among member states is essential for regional prosperity.
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Wetang’ula expressed concern that EAC nationals continue to face detention across borders for missing permits, saying the trend undermines the spirit of integration.
“I pray that a political federation of the EAC comes to fruition in our lifetime. Integration is not optional. We all know that EAC countries are stronger together than apart,” he said.
Wetang’ula also lauded Kenya for abolishing visa requirements for all African nationals, emphasising that EAC borders should symbolise sovereignty rather than restrict mobility. He reminded member states that the original vision of the EAC was to achieve a common currency, a customs union, and ultimately a political federation.
Uganda’s Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa supported the call for unity, noting that the games represent more than athletic competition.
“These Games are not just about winning trophies. They are a symbol of our shared commitment to unity and prosperity. We may compete as separate teams, but we must leave as one community,” he said.
This year’s tournament, themed “Advancing Integration Through Parliamentary Sports,” will run from December 6 to 16 and features participants from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Disciplines include men’s football, volleyball, basketball, netball, athletics, darts for persons with disabilities, golf, and tug of war. The opening football match between Uganda and Burundi was scheduled for 7:00 pm on the first day.
Beyond the Games, EAC countries have faced scrutiny over human rights issues. In Kenya, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was abducted while attending Martha Karua’s book launch in Nairobi and remains detained despite international calls for his release.
Similar incidents have occurred in Uganda, where Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were detained after participating in a rally led by opposition figure Bobi Wine. They were later released after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni publicly acknowledged detaining them, describing the men as “experts in riots” who had been put “in the fridge for some days.”
Tanzania is also under pressure following the recent elections, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration accused of suppressing dissent and violating human rights through mass killings.
Wetang’ula cautioned that such actions erode the foundation of EAC integration and urged political leaders to recommit to the bloc’s founding ideals of unity, shared prosperity, and free movement.
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