By Ben Musanje
Uganda’s Cabinet has approved the ratification of several East African Community (EAC) instruments aimed at strengthening regional integration, including changes to the bloc’s official languages, financing arrangements and recognition of academic and professional qualifications.
The decisions were announced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, by Minister of ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
According to Lumumba, Cabinet approved the ratification of instruments adopted at the 24th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State held in November 2024.
One of the changes involves an amendment to Article 137 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC to recognise French and Kiswahili as official languages of the Community, alongside the existing arrangements.
Cabinet also approved an amendment to Article 132(4), which provides for implementation of a new financing formula agreed by the EAC Heads of State.
Under the formula adopted at the 25th Ordinary Summit, 50 percent of the EAC’s funding will come from equal contributions by Partner States, while the remaining 50 percent will be based on assessed contributions.
The Summit directed Partner States to implement the new financing arrangement from July 1, 2026.
Uganda also approved Annex VII to the EAC Common Market Protocol, which establishes arrangements for the mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications across Partner States.
Lumumba said Cabinet had authorised the Minister of Foreign Affairs to sign, seal and deposit Uganda’s instruments of ratification with the EAC Secretary General in Arusha, Tanzania, in accordance with Uganda’s Ratification of Treaties Act.
Ratification is the process through which a Partner State completes its domestic procedures and formally deposits an instrument with the EAC Secretary General. Once the required process is completed, treaties, protocols and amendments become binding on the Partner State.
The latest Cabinet decision comes as the EAC continues efforts to deepen integration among its Partner States through initiatives covering trade, movement of people, education, professional services and institutional financing.
Lumumba said the government would also communicate other Cabinet resolutions taken on September 28 and October 5, as well as provide information on upcoming national celebrations. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
