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High Commissioner’s Farewell Message

I arrived in Kenya in February 1999. It is slightly over four years now. To say that I have enjoyed my stay in this beautiful country would be an understatement.

Save for artificial colonial boundaries, the people of Kenya and Uganda are the same especially along the Western border. There is, for instance, one family with a Member of Parliament in Uganda and a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Kenya.

For this oneness, among other things, Uganda is a fervent advocate of an East African Political Federation.

Kenya is an important trading partner. Uganda is a big market for Kenya products especially manufactured goods.

Kenya is one of the leading sources of foreign direct investment in Uganda. The balance of trade is still in Kenya’s favour, at a ratio of about 20:1. Uganda mainly exports agricultural produce and electricity to Kenya.

The challenge now is how to redress this imbalance. Cross-border trade and investment should therefore be the main focus, with elimination of trade barriers especially the non-tariff ones.

But Uganda is not over worried about this imbalance. We believe in unimpeded flow of trade and service. As we improve our competitiveness, this imbalance will be phased out since markets will be the determining factor.

Kenya is our gateway to the sea through the Port of Mombasa. Last year alone the Port handled 1.7 million tons of transit cargo. We therefore have a considerable stake in improved rail and road transport in Kenya as well as efficient functioning of the Port of Mombasa. I have regularly interacted with senior officials
of these organisations. The spirit has been that of co-operation.

Uganda is particularly interested in improving the railway as a joint enterprise of the three East African Countries.

Another area of activity I got interested in was the interaction of the neighbouring Districts and Provinces of the two countries.

At our own initiative we put in place a mechanism known as the Border commissioners Meeting or Forum. This is an arrangement whereby the Kenyan Provincial
Commissioners of the border areas meet their counterparts in Uganda every year, alternating venues. During these meetings, issues such as Security, Immigration, and Trade, are discussed. This has proved to be a very useful forum indeed in cementing our bilateral relations.

The High Commissioners of the three East African countries take part in the deliberations of the East African Community organs in Arusha. I was myself privileged to have been part of the Ugandan
Team that negotiated the Treaty that established the East African Community.

We have a challenge to play a significant role in promoting East African Integration. Right now negotiations for a Protocol in Customs Union are at an advanced stage.

According to the Treaty, the sequence of events leading to full integration of the three countries is as follows: a Customs Union first, followed by Common Market, then a Monetary Union, and eventually a Political Federation.

I wish to point out that through team work, this Mission has achieved a lot in terms of promoting Uganda/Kenya bilateral relations, trade, attraction of investment, and tourism to mention the key areas.

The Golden Award that I received in December 2002 in recognition of my efforts and those of the Mission in attracting foreign direct investment into Uganda is in my view a testimony to our hard work and focus on commercial diplomacy.

I therefore wish to convey my gratitude and appreciation to all the home-based and local staff for the spirit of team work. I would also like to mention something about the Newsletter, which I initiated. It has proved to be a very useful mouthpiece for the Mission. I am proud of its quality, and the work done by its Editor Mr. John L. Mugerwa, Second Secretary.

I have found the people of Kenya charming and hard working. I have visited all the provinces meeting business people and government officials. I have encouraged people-to-people contact through exchange of visits between Local Council officials, farmers, and businesspeople. Many Councillors from Kenya have visited Uganda and vice-versa, to foster cooperation in various fields of human endeavour.

At a personal level, my posting close to home offered me the convenience of traveling to Uganda regularly at minimal expense. In addition, the Kenyan weather is almost the same as in Uganda: warm and pleasant.
As I prepare to leave Kenya, I have fond memories which I will cherish all my life. But as it is written in the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Holy Bible, there is a time for everything.

It is now time for me to move. My next destination in New York where I will be stationed as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. I wish my successor, High Commissioner Designate Brig. Matayo Kyaligonza, every success as he embarks on his tour of duty in Kenya.

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