The head of state, President Yoweri Museveni has applauded the sports women and men from East African Parliaments for participating in the East African Games saying it shows the true spirit of the East African Community.
The President was today speaking during the volley ball game sessions of the 10th edition of the East African Community (EAC) Inter- Parliamentary Games (1PG) at the MTN arena, Lugogo in Kampala. The games were organized by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) with the aim of creating collaboration between the East African Parliaments as well as sensitizing the citizens on the importance of East Africa integration.
The games which involve football, netball, basketball, tug of war, darts, golf and athletics are running under the theme The EAC: One Spirit; One Destiny: Strengthening Integration through 10 years of Inter-Parliamentary Games.
The President, who watched the first round of the womens volley game between Uganda and Tanzania, where Uganda beat Tanzania 25 to 14 points, was impressed with the level of skill that was exhibited by the players.
“I last watched volley ball in 1967. I could not remember that it had a lot of skills. I thought that we the footballers are the only ones with skill but I have seen good hand skills exhibited here. When it comes to support, I am a Uganda so I support Uganda but am also Tanzanian, Museveni said.
He stressed that the East African Community and integration was crucial for the survival of all East Africans and that each person must fully embrace that spirit.
If you talk of modernity, you have to talk of market. The East African market is bigger than each single East African country and, therefore, we need it to survive, he said.
It was for this reason, said President Museveni, that he had not missed any East African function ever since he came to government.
The Speaker of Parliament Uganda, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, thanked President Museveni for showing the East African spirit. She added that while Rwanda and Uganda did not participate in the games this time, President Museveni had done well to grace the event with his presence.
Deputy Parliamentary Speaker of Tanzania, Tulia Ackson, commended Mr. Museveni for being the first East African President to visit and show support to the East African Community games. She asked other regional leaders to emulate President Musevenis example and support EAC activities.
EALA Speaker, Mr. Martin Ngoga, thanked President Museveni for showing true commitment to the East African spirit. He noted that in the upcoming Game Editions of the East African Community, game editions, EALA would create games for the East African people with disabilities to also participate.