EAC States meet in Rwanda to fine-tune use of ID cards

Kigali, Rwanda: Kenyan and Ugandan experts are meeting in the Rwandese capital, Kigali, to fine-tune final details of cross border movements. The forum will finalise on how citizens from the three countries can use their respective national identity cards across the borders. The meeting follows a commitment by the three Heads of State that come January 1, 2014, East Africans will be able to use national identity cards instead of passports. A statement from the East African Community ( EAC) said Ugandans will be able to use their voters cards for the time being until the national ID project has been concluded. Citizens from Tanzania and Burundi will, however, be missing out for a while from the deal.  The two nations are not part of the agreement. “It is hoped in the true spirit of East African Community, the two will soon come onboard,” said the statement.

Reports indicate that during the Kigali meeting, the experts will have an opportunity to see the newly printed common tourist Visa stickers, which are now being distributed to the national immigration offices for use at the countries airports and land borders. Tourists wishing to visit all three countries — Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda — will pay $100 (Sh8,600), a saving of $50 (Sh4,300) compared to current rates. The issuing country will ‘earn’ $40 dollars, which will include a handling fee of $10 (Sh860) while the other two countries will get $30 (Sh2,580) each.  The newfound partnership between Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya has so far produced some major commitments, among them a standard gauge railway for which only recently ground was broken in Mombasa. But the passport free travel and the common tourist Visa will be the first tangible and real results for the people of the region, easing trade and travel for them.

at 13:28:00

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