45 cyclists embark on East Africa cycling challenge

DAR ES ES SALAAM: FORTY-FIVE cyclists from five East African Community (EAC) member states have embarked on a 6,000-kilometre cycling journey across the region as part of the “Great Africa Cycling Safari-East African Community 2026”, an initiative aimed at strengthening regional integration, unity and cooperation.

The 55-day cycling tour was launched at the EAC headquarters in Arusha recently and will take the cyclists through Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, where they will promote peace, solidarity and public awareness of the EAC integration agenda.

Speaking during the send-off ceremony, the founder of the cycling safari, Johnbosco Balongo, said the initiative would help increase public awareness, empower and engage young people and strengthen citizens’ participation in the regional integration process.

He called for the establishment of a coordination mechanism between the EAC and the Great Africa Cycling Safari-East African Community (GACSEAC) to strengthen cooperation, communication and engagement with EAC institutions and partner states.

“Such a mechanism would help coordinate plans and activities, strengthen communication and enable meaningful engagement with EAC institutions and partner states,” he said.

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EAC Secretary General, Stephen Mbundi, said the initiative provided a practical way of advancing the community’s priorities through sport while promoting interaction among citizens of member states.

“This initiative provides practical implementation of existing priorities by using sport to bring people together, promote interaction between countries and strengthen the sense of belonging to the East African Community,” he said Mbundi also suggested that the organisers and the EAC should hold joint meetings to develop common messages for the cycling tour.

“The cyclists will also promote environmental conservation during the tour, with about 3,000 trees expected to be planted in areas covered by the journey, alongside efforts to support and raise awareness on improving social services,” he concluded