BUTIAMA, MARA — Dr. Ronex Tendo Kisembo, Chief Executive Officer of Afrika Mashariki Fest, has called on the governments of Tanzania and Burundi to remove passport barriers at their borders, saying the requirement hinders free movement of people and trade within the East African Community.
Dr. Kisembo made the appeal during a historic dialogue held at the Julius Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (JNUAT), where he paid tribute to the founding fathers of the East African Community and the leaders who led East African nations to independence.
"East African integration is paramount. There is no need for Tanzania and Burundi to put barriers for people of East Africa to use passports," said Dr. Kisembo. "This hinders free movement of people of East Africa and trade. It is time to remove these barriers to strengthen our unity."
Speaking at the same event, Jimmy Akena, son of former Ugandan President Dr. Apollo Milton Obote, said East African integration is a noble cause, but stressed that education should be the main focus.
"Education is the foundation. The young generation needs quality education that will allow them to compete for jobs anywhere in the world," said Akena. "Our forefathers—Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta and Obote—set the foundation. The future lies in the hands of the young generation, and that will only be possible through access to the best and better education."
Akena added that the founding fathers were visionaries and that the task of carrying their dream forward now belongs to the current generation.
The event was accompanied by a special prayer service at the church where Mwalimu Julius Nyerere used to pray in Butiama, his home village. The service was attended by many pilgrims from Afrika Mashariki Fest as well as members of the Nyerere family.
The Reverend Father who led the mass praised Nyerere as a leader who did not focus on enriching himself, but instead cared about all of Tanzania, East Africa, Africa and the world at large.
"Nyerere was a man with a good heart who would welcome everyone at his home without blocking anybody from accessing him," said the Reverend Father.
The "Twende Zetu" pilgrimage organized by Afrika Mashariki Fest began on 1 October 2026 from Tanzania. So far, the pilgrims have visited the home of Dr. Apollo Milton Obote in Akokoro, Uganda, where a special prayer was held before proceeding to Murchison Falls National Park.
Today, 14 October 2026, they are at the home of Julius Nyerere in Butiama. They are expected to be in Kenya this week to honor Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila Odinga and Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Madaraka Nyerere, son of Julius Nyerere, thanked all those who traveled to Butiama to honor his father, saying the family is delighted by the historic visit.
"Mwalimu Nyerere believed in the unity of East Africa as essential to the development of our people," said Madaraka Nyerere.
Participants in the dialogue accepted the importance of using Kiswahili in East Africa as a language of unity, promotion and trade.
