Maverick Kampala lawyer Kassim Male Mabirizi through the Ugandan East African affairs minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has written to the chairperson of the region summit and also the President of Kenya Dr William Ruto asking him to kick-off a process of withdrawing Uganda from the regional block.
In his letter, Mabirizi insists that in 1999 Ugandans were not consulted on joining the community and it was President Museveni who signed on their behalf without a referendum. Mabirizi alleges that after 25 years in a forced marriage, the majority of Ugandans feel safer being out of the community.
“25 years down the road, taking the route that the United Kingdom took in withdrawing from the European Union, I am convinced that the majority of Ugandans feel safer being out of the Community than being inside, hence the need for referendum. I therefore write to initiate the process for withdrawing of Uganda from the Community,” Mabirizi’s letter read in part.
He noted that the community is acting in opposite of its mandate without the view to realising the fast and balanced regional development which was to create an enabling environment for all the partner states in order to attract investment and allow the private sector and civil society to play a leading role in the socio-economic development activities.
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He insists that in reality the community has just contributed to eroding of serious investments and instead attracted politically motivated fake investments.
He notes that the community just looks on as leaders of partner member states are violating the citizen’s human rights.
He cited the shutdown of internet in Uganda and Tanzania during the elections yet the governments of these countries know that internet access is an international human right.
Mabirizi claims that the community is assisting these states to murder, kidnap and torture their citizen.
He cited the kidnap of Kenyan activities Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi in Uganda and the kidnap of opposition strongman Dr Kizza Besigye and his political assistant hajji Obed Lutale Kamulegeya from Kenya
“United Republic of Tanzania which hosts the headquarters is in international media with cogent information that it assassinated thousands of citizens including residents of the community but the community is mute,” Mabirizi stated.
He further claims that the East African Court of justice which was set up to enforce the treaty has over time lost track noting that judges appointed on that court always use their positions to shield leaders like President Museveni and only enjoy international allowances and only sit when there is money at the cost of delivering justice as they were supposed to do.
He maintains that Ugandans are not blind to the benefits of the community but the cost of maintaining a pseudo community is far higher than the few benefits compared with the risk of human rights violations.
He divulges that after leaving the community, Uganda can work out multilateral arrangements that can cater for its trade interests
“This is therefore to seek for your legal guidance of how Uganda can organize a referendum for purposes of withdrawing from the East African Community,” the letter further reads.
Mabirizi has been praised for marketing the East African Community through mobilizing local lawyers to protest decisions taken by president Museveni’s government in the regional court and a number of cases have been filed.
His letter comes at a time when Kenyan legislators have also hinted on the issue asking whether it is still important for their country to stay in the community where there is no balance of trade.
Countries have also failed to contribute their annual contribution to run the community as they are supposed to do.
However, President Museveni has always insisted that an East African political federation is the only way for the countries involved to have a strong say on the international negotiating table.
