A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PERFOMANCE BY EAC COUNTRIES

By Mutabazi Sam Stewart

The opposition in Uganda keeps putting government in the spotlight about the things the State ought to do but is not doing. Most people keep lamenting how Uganda is doing badly in terms providing democracy and improving the lives of its people. President Yoweri Museveni has often rebutted such claims by insisting that Uganda after all is doing even better compared to other nations in Africa. I took trouble to ascertain the truth about how countries in the region are fairing in terms of development basing on available statistics and using personal observations and experiences. I would have loved to cover as many African countries but my limited travel experience would not allow me to get first hand information that I needed to make a fair and balanced judgement in countries which I have never visited. I therefore chose to limit my area of analysis to the East African region, of which I have considerable exposure and acquaintance

I have been to all the capitals of member states of the East African Community i.e. Kampala, Nairobi, Dares salaam, Kigali and Bujumbura. I have been to most of the major towns and a few villages of these countries as well. The economic performance of a country can noticeably be recognised by the vibrancy of its capital, to a lay man who may not be interested in economic indices by IMF/ World Bank and UNDP. Without traveling to the countryside, one can get a sense of whether a country is doing well or otherwise, by the kind of activities going on in the capital city. If the people in the capital are living a miserable life, don’t expect those in the countryside to be doing better. i therefore believe that my analysis of situations in the countries will make a fair assessment

I have tried to analyse, informally the performance of states that make up the East African Community for a period of over ten years. I have discovered that each country has its own peculiar woes and achievements.

With a population of 10 million people, (It is the most densely populated country in Africa given its size) GDP of $8 billion, total revenue collection of $700, external debt at $1.4 Billion and life expectancy at 49, Rwanda has the best functioning public works system and management across East Africa. This is attributed to the policy mixture employed by the government there where, despite privatization and liberalization the state remains the largest investor in public enterprises which it sees as vital components of helping to uplift the struggling private sector. Rwanda is at the same time regarded as the most policed state in the region with a lot of curtailments on freedom of its people.

Burundi is the poorest country among the five countries surveyed going by both conventional statistics and through common man’s judgement. The country has a population of 8 million; its life expectancy is at 51 years. Its GDP, total government revenue and external debt are $6.3 billion, $256 million, and $1.2 billion respectively. The poor performance of the country is attributed to being the furthest from the cost which escalates its transport costs and unending wars and political instability that can’t allow the economy to flourish.

Uganda is arguably one of the most endowed country among the pack of the five that form the regional bloc. With the best climate, an average size and diverse population (30 million), Uganda is supposed to be doing far much better economically. As of now our GDP is at 31.2 billion, our revenue is a mere 2.8 billions and our external debt stands at 1.39 billion dollars after the debt cancellation under the HIPIC initiative. Uganda’s public sector could be regarded as, again, one of the worst in the region given what it was in the sixties and early seventies.

Tanzania has been a mediocre state ever since the days of Mzee Julius Nyerere. Despite being peaceful, the country seems to be stagnant as far as development is concerned. With a total land and sea area covering 945,087 sq km, population of 40 million people, revenue of $3.5 billion, life expectancy of 51 years, Tanzania seems to have slept for so long. Tanzania is a country that gets everything right in terms of governance and pro-people programmes but gets everything wrong on how to get results. It is the safest country in the region with the lowest reported cases of corruption and has the lowest external debt ($600 million). No body can put a finger on who “bewitched” Tanzania

The last country we can talk about is what is known to be the largest economy in East and Central Africa – Kenya. It has one of the busiest ports in Africa, Mombasa and its GDP is at $57 billion. Its public debt stands at $2.5 and its per capita income hovers around 300-350 dollars. The country boasts of a large private sector that has expanded into areas formally thought to be provided by the public or the State. Kenya’s biggest asset is at the same time its greatest weakness. It has one of the most versatile populations not only in East Africa but in Africa as a whole. Its cities and towns are the most insecure and its population can’t take no for an answer from government. Kenya wouldn’t be any different from Uganda if it didn’t have access to the sea. Its public sector, though better than that of Uganda is nothing much to cry for. Its upcountry roads are for instance worse of than those of Uganda.

What one can conclude from such a picture therefore is that President Museveni may be right when he says that all African countries are the same. For instance, although Kampala is the filthiest city of all the five capitals, a visitor who abruptly lands in the centre of any of the other cities would not make so much difference. On the other hand, the opposition is also right in demanding for better things from government. The fact that other countries are doing badly must never be tolerated as a valid reason to remain backward. It only calls for one action - if the current administration can’t pull Uganda to the top its better they ship out and let others try.