East African Legislative Assembly, Kampala, August 25, 2015:  Regional legislators over the weekend made an incursion but of a different nature in Gulu Municipality, this time to sensitize citizens on regional integration.

It was the first such outreach programme for the Assembly in the Northern part of Uganda that witnessed a tree-planting exercise as well as delivery of key messages on the tangible benefits of integration. The function took place outside the Layibi College on the stretch of Customs Corner- Layibi road.

EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega led the tree-planting exercise with the area inhabitants coming together to plant sixty palm tree seedlings.  The Local Chairman five (LCV) of the Area, Hon Ojara Mapenduzi confirmed the four kilometer road would be renamed Afrika Mashariki road in order to create awareness to the citizens of the area and to be a constant reminder that the integration process is alive.

"We are working on the necessary documentation and consulting with the authorities and this will see the road renamed Afrika Mashariki" shortly, he said.

EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Daniel Kidega remarked that the Assembly would continue to ensure sustenance of the environment through the tree-planting programme.  "We hope we can work with different stakeholders here to keep the programme alive", the Speaker said.

Uganda's EAC Minister, Hon Shem Bageine said the future of the region belonged to the youth and challenged them to dedicate and commit to the ideals of integration.  He said the EAC was committed to realizing all the pillars of integration eventually leading to the Political Federation. 

The EAC Secretary General, Amb Dr. Richard Sezibera said Gulu area was now a safe haven and called on the locals to embrace integration in order to ensure progressive development.

On his part, the President of the Democratic Party, Hon Norbert Mao was emphatic that full integration would be realized in future.

"We must begin to see ourselves not only as people of Gulu or Ugandans but as East Africans.  This is absolutely important.  I thank you for coming here to plant trees and to reach out to the citizens", he said.

He remarked that it was necessary for the locals to speak Kiswahili more – given that it was the unifying language and the lingua franca of East Africa.In attendance were pupils from Mother Ludare Primary School and the Layibi College as well as the area inhabitants.

The four kilometres Customs Corner –Layibi road links to the Juba Highway and is a major transit area to South Sudan.   The decision by EALA to enhance outreach activities is anchored in its Strategic Plan (2013-2018).   The Strategic Plan envisages a people-centred approach to widening and deepening the integration process. Herein, the Assembly hopes to intensify sensitization and a Public awareness campaign