President Salva Kiir - June 22, 2022. Photo credit: PPU

President Salva Kiir on Sunday appealed to regional leaders to work together to address the challenges facing their people and build a better future for the next generations.

Kiir made the remarks during the commemoration of the 60^th anniversary of Ugandan Independence in Kampala yesterday.

Uganda gained her independence from the United Kingdom on 9^th October 1962 when Milton Apollo Obote, leader of the Uganda People’s Congress became the first Prime Minister and head of the government.

Addressing the occasion on Sunday, President Salva Kiir said Africa must be uplifted from the setbacks of poverty and chronic diseases.

“As Africans, this must be our century to uplift our people out of the abject poverty, chronic diseases, and ignorant guided by our common values and interests to effectively determine our shared destiny,” Kiir said while addressing the event at Kololo.

“We must strive to build a better future for the next generations and collectively overcome the patronizing foreign control of our affairs.”

Ugandans across the country and in the capital, Kampala were in jubilation mood on Sunday as the country marked 60th Independence Anniversary.

Leaders from the East African Community member-states jetted to Uganda to join Ugandans in celebrating their independence day.

Speaking at the same event, Kenya’s  newly elected president, William Samoei Ruto encouraged the East African Community to implement the regional integration protocols.

“It is our place as leaders and as citizens of the East Africa Region for us to work together so that we can transform our borders which today stand out as barriers and convert them to bridges so that goods, services, and people can move across this East Africa without any impediments.”

In May 2017, the EAC heads of state adopted a political confederation as a transitional model of the East African political federation.

This included, Customs Union Protocol to enhance trade among the partner States of the East African Community.

Common Market to guide free movement of goods, people, labour, services and capital from one partner state to another as well as the rights of establishment and residence without restrictions.

Others include Monetary Union to provide for the attainment of a single currency for daily transactions within the common market among others.