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| Behaviour of Heads of State and Regional Integration. A Case Study of East African Community (EAC Between 1963-2022)
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Asiimwe Phiona, Makoba Sam, Ahumuza Mark Arnold
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Abstract:
The study sought to investigate the influence of Heads of State towards regional integration. The objectives of the study were to (i) analyze the role that the heads of State are expected to play towards enhancing policy formulation, implementation on regional integration in East African Community (ii) to examine the effects of insecurity on regional integration in East Africa and (iii) to establish the challenges affecting the process of achieving a fully integrated East African region. In this study, the Hegemonic Stability theory by Keohane (1984) that is based on the presence of a hegemony that ensures stability of the international system and the Structural Functionalism theory by Durkheim (1967) which factors a society as a complex system that constitutes of segments that work together with an intent of achieving a set goal, were used. Descriptive survey design was used in the study. The target population for the study was officers in the Ministry of East African Community, Political Scientists, serving and retired ambassadors. Stratified Random sampling was used to obtain a sample size of 130 respondents. Data was collected by use of self-structured questionnaires as well individual interview schedules. Analysis of the qualitative data was done by use of both the framework analysis and thematic analysis approaches while the quantitative data was analyzed by use of data master sheets and tally sheets. The findings revealed that the extent of Heads of State role in terms of policy formulation and implementation was fairly moderate (average mean=3.41, SD = 1.19), insecurity (average mean=3.72; SD=1.03) and challenges (average mean = 3.53; SD=1.04) all means implying that the Heads of State plays the roles of safeguarding the common values, fundamental interests and independence of the community. The head of State should also spearhead the harmonization of monetary and fiscal policies. The study further found that it is crucial for the head of State to actively participate in consultative meetings that promote the regional integration agenda and present the interests of the country at the EAC. Uganda's main national interest in the EAC is economic growth and development and it is key for the Head of State to actively participate in the summit by advancing the need for the country to attain a larger regional market for her goods and products hence uplifting the living standards of the Ugandan citizens. The study concluded that the EAC state governments can steer efforts towards integration as long as there is a will to plough in more resources which will go along with creating a friendly environment of trade between and among member states, hence realization of mutual benefit in member states in creation of opportunities for their citizens. It was also concluded that previous heads of State in Uganda have endeavoured to push for the regional integration agenda to some extent, but none has fully overseen the implementation of all agreed integration policies. The study recommends that heads of State should consider giving significant weight to interests that reflect on regional integration and not focusing mostly on national interest, it is also prudent for Uganda to conform with the regional integration laws especially on set political Confederation in order to promote a sounding democracy.
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