The defunct East African Community was formed in 1967 between Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. It came into existence in June of the same year in an agreement signed between the former leaders of East Africa namely: Obote, Kenyatta and Nyerere. The EAC started as an East African high Commission in 1948. A treaty was signed in 1967 to make it a community. The historical background to the formation of the EAC is as follows:

The close co-peration started with the opening up of customs and Uganda railway when both Uganda and Kenya were under British rule.
In 1905, the East Africa Currency Board was established. Tanganyika joined them in 1933. They had formed a customs union.

In 1948, they formed the East African High Commission made up of the three governors and other administrators of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

After independence the EACSO was formed replacing the East African High Commission.

In 1963, they wanted to form the East African Federation but due to disagreements, it was abandoned. But the EAC was set up in 1967.

The frustrated attempts to create the East African federation was motivated with the establishment of close co-operation known as the East African Community (EAC) in 1967. A commission on East African co-operation was set up under the chairmanship of Professor Kjeld Philip a Danish national who worked with three senior ministers from each of the three states.

The commission and the report of 1966 recommended the formation of the East African Economic integration. On 6111 June, 1967 the three heads of state namely; "Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenyatta of Kenya and Obote of Uganda signed the treaty of the EAC and it came into force on 1s1 December, 1967 according to article 95. However the 1971 coup in Uganda staged by Amin marked the beginning of the collapse of the community.

Nyerere refused to recognise Amin as president of Uganda creating misunderstanding between the two countries. Therefore the absence of good will among the East African leaders stalled the activities of the community leading to it's eventual collapse in 1975. On 1st December 1977, Uganda established it's own service and later followed by Tanzania and Kenya. In 1983, the three Heads of state met at Arusha and divided the assets and liabilities of the community. However, today the presence of good will among the three East African leaders viz; Kikwete Chakaya of Tanzania, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Museveni of Uganda has led to the revival of the community