Hon Orone Derrick

I thank Their Excellencies, the Heads of State of the East African Community, for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving as Chairperson of the EAC Summit for the next year. Africa must avoid what I call “Okukonesa” , the mis-cooking of the African Revolution. Historically, our weaknesses of disunity, poor leadership and failure to adopt science allowed the continent to be colonised. We achieved Uhuru (freedom). The next mission must be Umoja (unity). Prosperity comes from production and markets. Fragmented markets keep Africa poor. In Luganda we say: “Omuggo oguli ku mulirano tegugoba ngo.” The stick in the neighbour’s house cannot chase away the leopard. Africa must build its own internal market through integration. The East African Community and continental integration are therefore not optional. The mission remains: Uhuru na Umoja, Freedom and Unity.