East African Community

The Retreat and Outreach Mission for the Principal/Permanent Secretaries responsible for East African Community Affairs and Fisheries and Aquaculture under the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) was held at the LVFO Secretariat in Jinja, Republic of Uganda, from December 9th to 10th, 2024.

The session was attended by members of the LVFO Coordination Committee and representatives from Ministries responsible for East African Community Affairs (MEACAs), including:

• Mr. Séverin Mbarubukeye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Republic of Burundi.
• Ms. Lucy Wanja Mburu, Representative of the Principal Secretary, MEACA, Republic of Kenya, State Department for East African Community.
• Amb. Stephen Patrick Mbundi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, United Republic of Tanzania.
• Mrs. Edith N. Mwanje, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Republic of Uganda.

The session was also attended by Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries responsible for Fisheries and Aquaculture, including:

• Mr. Diomède Ndayirukiye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock, Republic of Burundi.
• Mr. Joseph Wala Mahongah, Representative of the Principal Secretary, State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Republic of Kenya.
• Mr. Joseph Bwanika, Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Republic of Uganda.

Additionally, the LVFO Executive Secretary and LVFO Secretariat staff participated in the session.

The primary objective of the mission was to conduct a structured retreat and outreach mission while discussing the technical programs and projects currently being implemented at the LVFO Secretariat, as well as those planned for the future. The session aimed to provide high-level policy guidance to support their effective implementation.