Soroti District Chair Hon. Bob Owiny in Tanzania on High-Level EAC Benchmarking Mission. 

DODOMA, TANZANIA — Soroti District LCV Chairperson, Hon. Bob Owiny, has arrived in Tanzania as part of a high-level Ugandan delegation undertaking a five-day benchmarking and working visit aimed at deepening regional governance and East African Community (EAC) integration.

The diplomatic and technical mission, organized in partnership with Faraja Africa, brings together Ugandan local and national representatives to engage directly with Tanzanian government institutions. 

The visit seeks to extract practical insights into the country's governance frameworks and grassroots development approaches.

Hon. Owiny confirmed his arrival in the capital city, Dodoma, yesterday afternoon, noting that the intensive itinerary will run through the week before the delegation returns over the weekend.

"Am out of the country in Dodoma, Tanzania, on a 5-day benchmarking and working visit," Hon. Owiny stated. "I arrived here yesterday afternoon and will return over the weekend."

 Strengthening State and Non-State Partnerships 

On Tuesday, the delegation spent the day at the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, Children and People with Disabilities. Convening at Jamii House in the capital, Hon. Owiny and the team held extensive discussions with the Permanent Secretary and the ministry's top management officials.

The high-level engagements focused heavily on the structural relationships between Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and state machinery. Specifically, the team understudied how non-state actors operate within Tanzania's central and local government structures.

"Today we have engagements at the Ministry Of Community Development, Gender, women, children and People with disabilities," Hon. Owiny explained. "We are meeting the permanent secretary and his top management team and officials at the Jamii house at the capital in Dodoma, Tanzania."

Key areas of policy intersection during the ministerial dialogue included NGO registration, regulatory compliance, operational frameworks, and programme implementation.

The delegation also explored Tanzania’s specialized approaches to youth development, leadership mentorship, and the active participation of special interest groups in public affairs.

 Observing Legislative Processes at the Bunge 

The delegation’s itinerary moves to the legislative branch tomorrow, where Hon. Owiny and his counterparts are scheduled to visit the Parliament of Tanzania, locally known as the Bunge.

"Tomorrow we shall be having engagements at the Bunge (parliament) and will attend plenary," the Chairperson noted, highlighting that the Ugandan representatives will observe a live sitting and interact with House leadership to study Tanzanian parliamentary processes.

 Fast-Tracking EAC Integration Knowledge 

According to Hon. Owiny, the overarching objective of the five-day tour is to build institutional capacity and cross-border knowledge regarding the East African Community (EAC) integration. 

The study targets the four core pillars of regional alignment: social, political, economic, and cultural integration.

"We are building our capacity in terms of knowledge and understanding of the East African Community integration, that is to say, Social, Political, Economic, and Cultural integration," Hon. Owiny emphasized.

Furthermore, the mission is designed to analyze regional political dynamics across independent member states. By examining the functional realities of national parliaments, ministries, and government agencies, the delegation aims to better understand how local governments can align their district development agendas with broader regional treaties.

"In addition, we are understanding the regional politics at the independent member states—that is, parliaments, ministries, and government agencies—and then at the EAC level," the Soroti District chief concluded.

The working visit will conclude over the weekend when Hon. Owiny and the Ugandan delegation return home. The benchmarking outcomes are expected to inform local governance strategies and enhance regional cooperation frameworks back in Soroti District.

 From Communication