Museveni urges EAC states to lower transport, electricity costs

President Museveni has urged states from the East African Community (EAC) to lower cost of transport, electricity and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) if the region is to prosper.

Museveni made the appeal on Thursday at the EAC Heads of State Summit on financing infrastructure and health which ended last week.

“When we are dealing with the railway, electricity and ICT backbone, we must ensure the final price of the utility is competitive because those elements are dangerous cost-pushers. High electricity, transport and internet costs will not allow us to industrialise.” he said.

Museveni who is also the current EAC chairperson noted that the region is moving forward on trade facilitation through the harmonisation of Vehicle Load Control and operationalisation of the One Stop Border Posts.

He added that the region has also made good strides on the EAC One Area Network as the implementation of cross-border ICT infrastructure is critical for the attainment of a unified market in communication services in East Africa.

Museveni said: “I am gratified to note that Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have implemented the EAC roaming framework, which has considerably reduced on the telecommunication charges for the East African citizens. I urge all the partner states to embrace this initiative for the benefit of our people.”