ARUSHA, Tanzania — Kassanda South MP Hajji Abdul Bisaso has called on East African Community Partner States to close the gap between signed protocols and actual practice, urging the removal of unnecessary non-tariff barriers that continue to hinder free movement of goods, services, labour and capital across the region.
Speaking during the MP Connect Fellowship and related East African youth leadership sessions, Bisaso said the Common Market Protocol and Customs Union already provide a strong legal framework, but persistent administrative bottlenecks, repeated inspections, differing standards and delays are frustrating young entrepreneurs and raising the cost of doing business.
“What is the meaning of an East African Common Market if a young entrepreneur can’t legally have access to a regional market, but in practice faces unnecessary permits, repeated inspections, different standards, administrative delays, restrictions and other barriers when crossing from one Partner State to another?” he asked.
Bisaso stressed that the problem is not a lack of protocols but weak implementation. He noted that the EAC Secretary General in July 2026 had already called for decisive action to eliminate these bottlenecks.
While highlighting the strategic importance of Tanzania’s trade corridors and the Port of Dar es Salaam, the Ugandan legislator made clear that his remarks were not an accusation against any single country. “This is a call for all Partner States—including Tanzania—to fully embrace the spirit and obligations of our Community,” he said. Delays along these corridors, he added, ultimately hurt producers, traders, consumers and young people across the region.
Bisaso placed particular emphasis on the youth dimension. Young people in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, he argued, should not view national borders as the end of their economic opportunity. They produce coffee, fish, agricultural products, manufactured goods, digital services, clothing, technology and creative products—and need a functioning regional market rather than more programmes on paper.
He proposed five practical measures for the East African Youth Parliament to champion:
A systematic review by Partner States of national laws and practices that conflict with Common Market and Customs Union commitments.
Zero tolerance for unnecessary non-tariff barriers, with only transparent, harmonised requirements retained for legitimate health, safety, security or revenue reasons.
Greater harmonisation and mutual recognition of standards, certificates and documentation.
Turning One Stop Border Posts into truly joint operations with digital systems, coordinated inspections and risk-based controls.
Establishing mechanisms that allow young traders and MSMEs to report barriers, access information on their rights and obtain timely remedies.
“East Africa cannot integrate by signing protocols alone. We must integrate by implementing them,” Bisaso declared. “Let us move from protocols to practice, borders to bridges, barriers to opportunities, and national markets to one East African market.”
He concluded that the current generation of young East Africans does not want an institutionally existing Community that remains weak at the point of implementation. “We want an East Africa that works economically for the ordinary citizen.”
Bisaso, the NRM legislator for Kassanda South, is currently taking part in the MP Connect Fellowship in Tanzania, where young leaders from across the region are exchanging experiences on leadership, parliamentary engagement and regional cooperation.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article