ISSUE 09 APRIL 2014 Kwibuka but NEVER AGAIN! Rwanda has new sense of hope LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE OVERSIGHT/BUDGET INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES Plenary Meetings Activities of EALA in Good leadership EACJ could try genocide held in Rwanda Rwanda & politics key cases in future components to peace SPEAKER’S CHAMBER ......................................................................................................................... 4 CLERK’S CHAMBER ............................................................................................................................. 5 6 14 Kwibuka! But Never Again! Good leadership and politics key components to peace 8 16 EALA has made its presence felt in Rwanda New sense of hope in Rwanda twenty years later 11 18 EACJ can try future genocidal History and Circumstances attrocities with extended conspired to place Burundi on jurisdiction on human rights the verge of explosion & crimes against humanity 12 Rwanda has taken a great leap post genocide 20 I saw it, survived and lived to tell......Testimony of a genocide survivor ISSUE No. 9 JANUARY - APRIL 2014 2 RWANDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hon AbuBakr Ogle – Chair Hon Shy-Rose Bhanji – Vice Chairperson Hon Hafsa Mossi – Member Th Commemoration of 20 Anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi Hon Mike Sebalu – Member Hon Dr. James Ndahiro – Member 23 Co-opted Mr. Richard Othieno Owora – Member How a crooked Ms. Gloria Nakebu – Esiku – Member and self-serving EDITOR-IN-CHIEF colonial strategy Mr Kenneth Namboga Madete - Clerk, EALA sustained the Rwandan genocide EDITORIAL LEADER ideology Mr. Bobi Odiko EDITORIAL TEAM MEMBERS Ms. Aileen Mallya Mr. Florian Mutabazi 25 CONTRIBUTORS Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa Two decades Hon Dr. Odette Nyiramilimo later, ICTR has a Hon Dr. James Ndahiro dismal record in Hon Louise Mushikiwabo delivering justice Hon Dan F. Kidega Hon Ogle AbuBakr to the victims and Hon Patricia Hajabakiga survivors of the Prof. John Eudes Ruhangisa genocide DESIGN & LAYOUT Mr. Timothy Ojore Twenty years after: How Rwanda has fashioned a new, PHOTOGRAPHY Mr. Abdul Mukhtar post-genocide narrative .......................................................................28 Mr. Justino Liwali Where are my young heroes?...............................................................30 DISCLAIMER: OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE NOT NECESSARILY Dreadful, horrific and macabre – the murderous frenzy THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER I witnessed during the Rwanda genocide ............................................32 Published by The East African Legislative Assembly, Congratulations, Kenya@50, the Golden Jubilee Day: East African Community Headquarters, P.O. Box 1096, Arusha , Tanzania. How I saw it ..........................................................................................34 Tel: 255-27-2508240, Fax: 255-27-2503103 ONE PEOPLE, ONE DESTINY Web: www.eala.Org 3 ISSUE No. 9 JANUARY - APRIL 2014 EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY DESK OF THE HON. SPEAKER Rt. Hon. Zziwa Margaret his being the first publication this year, I wish the steps so far taken to re-build the country. Much to convey my best wishes and prayers of good can be said about Rwanda’s transformation including Thealth and prosperity to all our esteemed remarkable progress recorded in infrastructure, readers. The 9th edition of theBunge La Afrika Mashariki stability and security. The country’s GDP has grown by Magazine is dedicated to the commemoration of the an average of about 8% every year since 2001, raising 20th Anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi in a million people out of poverty. Rwanda. The World Bank recently ranked Rwanda as the Twenty years ago, the entire globe watched in second most business-friendly place on the continent, trepidation as the Republic of Rwanda went up and the 32nd globally while the Government has in flames. Thousands of lives were lost, homes resolutely pursued social inclusion and economic demolished and economies desiccated as genocidiares growth on the understanding that these are some of descended on peace-loving Rwandans with machetes, the sustainable foundations for peace, prosperity and knives, axes, guns and clubs. The genocide in Rwanda liberty. in 1994 was the first genocide in a truly globalised In East Africa, Rwanda has fully embraced the world. One hopes such a catastrophe will never occur integration process. Rwanda has opened up its frontiers again. to the region. The EAC has also learnt a great deal from The International Community came on board- the country. There is renewed sense of hope even as albeit belatedly when the damage was already done we reflect on the grim period of the country’s history by establishing an adhoc United Nations International and commiserate with those who lost their loved ones. Court on Rwanda (ICTR) to try suspects accused of Rwanda is one of the countries closest to fulfilling masterminding the genocide. the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals Two decades later, as Rwanda commemorates (MDGs). The country has made strides in meeting (Kwibuka20), one must hail the home-grown solutions commitments such as increasing education, reducing offered by Rwandans themselves through leadership poverty and expanding health care. When it comes of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF). The twentieth to gender equality, Rwanda currently has the highest commemoration is an opportunity to look back at how proportion of female legislators (at 64%) in the Lower- Rwanda has been able to address the post genocide House (Rwanda Chamber of Deputies). challenges and built a unified and ever prospering Rwandans in the Diaspora have also been country. fully involved in re-building their country. I salute Reparation and justice prevailed as close to two President Paul Kagame and his Government for their million people were arraigned and sentenced by the achievements in re-construction, unity and prosperity “Gacaca” Courts, a community justice system set as Rwandans embrace the existing opportunities. up between 2001 and 2012 to try those involved We urge all Rwandans to participate fully in in the genocide. The testimonies of survivors even initiatives designed to promote well being and good manifestly pointed to a rage and horror that was governance. distinct and macabre. While we commiserate with We salute Rwanda’s renewal and its ability to forgive the Government and the citizens, we take pride in and forge ahead as we mark Kwibuka20! ISSUE No. 9 JANUARY - APRIL 2014 4 EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OFFICE OF THE CLERK Mr. Kenneth Namboga Madete once again welcome you to the 9th edition of to consolidate the EAC Customs Union. It aims at our flagship magazine, Bunge la Afrika Mashariki, liberalizing trade within the region with the centralized I the publication that brings you to speed with collection of taxes and duties permitting the wider and developments at the EALA in particular and the EAC freer circulation of goods within the region. in general. Last month in Arusha, a new scorecard was The edition comes on the scene at a time when launched to measure Partner States’ compliance to the the Republic of Rwanda and the EAC is marking the tenets of the Common Market Protocol. The Common commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Market Protocol which soon turns four years since the This is the twentieth year since the horrendous act inauguration envisages free movement of persons, was carried out in the Republic of Rwanda. EALA has capital, services and goods as well as the Rights to dedicated this edition specifically in remembrance establishment. of the solemn occasion. We have wholly dedicated The Scorecard developed by the World Bank will the publication on related articles as we remember no doubt foster peer learning, facilitate the adoption how thousands of lives were lost in an uncanny yet of best practices in the region and grow the Private despicable manner. Sector and deliver benefits to consumers. I wish to commiserate with victims who lost their In our efforts to ensure a people centered loved ones – be they family, friends and relatives. Let Integration, EALA has continued to enhance us remember the people who died in the genocide. involvement of the citizens through multi-stakeholder For the living, do not be discouraged. Keep on hoping interface. In February, EALA undertook a ten day for a better future. Be brave, and do not be angry. Let working tour in the Republic of Kenya. The tour held us truly reconcile. with the support of the Kenya Government through As we join Rwanda and the EAC in marking the 20th the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Anniversary (Kwibuka20), I reiterate that such acts Tourism, saw EALA visit the Counties of Nairobi, must never be allowed to take place again. We have Nakuru, Kilifi and Mombasa. Members engaged with to bury the ideology of hatred forever. a number of stakeholders including the top leadership Permit me however to digress a little on other of the Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport matters to update our readers on some of the latest (LAPSSET) Corridor project, Konza Techno City, Vision developments in the integration efforts. 2030 Secretariat as well as the officials of the Kenya The beginning of 2014 was marked by positive Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the East African news following the agreement to implement the Single Business Council (EABC). Customs Territory (SCT) and the steps taken to initiate It is our intention in 2014 to ensure EALA puts its the single visa. best foot forward in collaboration