To support the implementation of the EAC Regional Government Programme, the EAC secretariat requested UNCTAD to build capacity for policy and legal experts from the Partner States and officers from the EAC. A first training workshop on “The Legal Aspects of e- Commerce” was jointly organized by the EAC and UNCTAD secretariats (Kenya, December 2006). The training workshop aimed at preparing lawmakers and government officials in all aspects to be considered for drafting cyberlaws and at promoting the development of a harmonized legal framework at the regional level. Following the defined roadmap toward a harmonised legal framework in the EAC prepared during this training workshop, the EAC Partner States appointed members to the Regional Task Force on Cyberlaws (“Task Force”) formed in December 2007. The Task Force is drawn from Partner States Ministries and government departments; from regional associations of legal professionals (East African Law Society, East African Magistrates & Judges, East African Business Council); and from the EAC Secretariat (EAC Secretariat Legal Department, East African Court of Justice, East African Legislative Assembly). UNCTAD facilitated the three meetings of the EAC Task Force held in 20082 which discussed possible options and challenges in the development of a harmonized regional legal framework. UNCTAD carried out a review of the existing draft laws and bills and assisted in the preparation of the following legal framework for harmonization of cyberlaws in the region. 1.2 Approach and Methodology A participatory approach and consultative methodology was followed to gather from and share with information from the five Partner States namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi which are at different stages of developing their domestic cyberlaws. As of September 2008, Uganda has prepared three bills that had been approved by the cabinet and were due to be presented to parliament for debate and enactment namely: Electronic Transactions Bill; Digital Signatures Bill; and Computer Misuse Bill. Kenya has a draft Electronic Transactions Bill covering aspects of legal recognition of e-documents and transactions. The Bill provides for among other things the institutional arrangements, offences, dispute resolution mechanism and safeguards for privacy and data protection. Rwanda has a draft bill providing for an omnibus law, covering electronic transactions and signatures, with similarities with the draft bills of Uganda and Kenya. Tanzania has no specific cyberlaw but there are various reform initiatives towards the enactment of the cyberlaws. In 2005, the Law Reform Commission of Tanzania submitted a report with recommendations on the Legal framework for e-commerce and cyber crimes. In 2007 Tanzania amended the Evidence Act to recognize electronic evidence. Burundi is yet to develop its cyberlaws. Consultative meetings were held with regional Task Force members to collect information on current activities, requirements and identify challenges and opportunities in developing the Legal framework on Cyberlaws. A comparative analysis of the Commonwealth Model Law on Electronic Transactions (2002), the UNCITRAL Model Laws on Electronic Commerce and Electronic Signatures, and the 2 First Meeting of the EAC Task Force on cyberlaws, January 2008, Arusha, Tanzania; Second Meeting of the EAC Task Force on cyberlaws, June 2008, Kampala, Uganda; Third Meeting of the EAC Task Force on cyberlaws, September 2008, Bujumbura, Burundi 4