EAST AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF ANTI-CORRUPTION AUTHORITIES (EAAACA) Tito Rutemarara Ombudsman Rwanda Chairperson, EAAACA Johannesburg, April 2010

Background The Genesis was on 28th September 2007 in Kampala-Uganda when the heads of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Prevention and Combating Corruption Bureau of Tanzania and Inspectorate of Government of Uganda signed the Kampala Declaration of East African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities

The Association was thereafter launched in Nairobi-Kenya on 9th November 2007 when the EAAACA Constitution was signed. It is composed of; Anti-Corruption Commission of Kenya; Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau of Tanzania Inspectorate of Government of Uganda; Office of the Ombudsman-Rwanda; The Special Brigade of Anti-Corruption Commission of Burundi.

Vision To promote the spirit of zero tolerance to corruption and encourage regional cooperation in preventing and combating corruption.

Objectives The following are the objectives of the Association among many others: To promote, facilitate and regulate cooperation among the Partner States to ensure the effectiveness of measures and actions to prevent, detect, investigate, punish and eradicate corruption; To afford to one another mutual legal assistance regarding detection, investigations, prosecutions, identifications, tracing, freezing, seizure, confiscation and repatriation of property, instruments or proceeds obtained or derived from corruption; To conduct research on new and best practices and innovations to improve and enhance the effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Authorities in East African Region; To stimulate public awareness about the dangers of corruption; To facilitate the repatriation of proceeds of corruption or money laundering or illicit wealth and the seizure of any property when requested by any Party to this Constitution; To coordinate, harmonize the policies and legislation between Partner States for purposes of prevention, detection, investigation, punishment and eradication of corruption in the East African Community Region; To cooperate in the areas of witness and whistleblower protection system.

Nature of the Association The Association is an independent, non-profit making and non-political Association. Membership Membership of the Association is open to all National Anti-Corruption Authorities of East African Community Partner States. Other Authorities or institutions with similar objectives may become observers of the Association on application for membership upon recommendation by the Executive Committee.

Sources of Income The income of the Association is derived from: Membership fees; Contribution from member Authorities; Grants, donations, sponsorship or any other kind of contribution from National or International organizations or individuals; Proceeds from the sale of publications and other activities of the Association; Any other form of income that may accrue to the Association and approved by the Executive Committee.

Organs of EAAACA Annual General Meeting is the supreme governing body of the Association and comprises of Representatives of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Honorary members. Executive Committee is the managing and administrative body of the Association. It consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary General and the Honorable heads of Association are members. The Presidency is rotational which is of a term of two years. Secretariat is the technical and implementation arm of the Association. It is based in Kampala-Uganda which is responsible for the day to day running of the Association.

Achievements of the Association Since the Association’s inception, it has achieved the following: Set up of the Secretariat with operations Staff; Developed the EAAACA Website (www.eaaaca.org); Participated in the drafting of the East African Community Protocol on Prevention and Combating Corruption; Joint Trainings of EAAACA Investigators; Sharing of information on investigated cases between Partner States. Challenges Inadequate funds for the activities/programmes of the Association; Low skills of investigative techniques; Different legal systems.

THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION!!!!