The main objective of the East African Central Banking Course is to create a forum for middle level officers to interact, exchange ideas and experiences, expand knowledge, create awareness and understanding of central bank operations. The three central banks of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda initiated the course in 1968 and with a brief interruption in the seventies; the14 courses have continuously been conducted bi-annually to date.
Initially and up to 1996, participation included the then PTA countries but from there on it has been for only East Africa.
In order for the course to reflect current financial and economic developments the course is reviewed from time to time. In the 1996 Governors meeting it had been decided that the duration of the course be reduced to three and a half (31/2) weeks from six (6) weeks. However, while conducting the 12th course, which was held in Kenya in 1998, organisers realized that infact it was possible to hold the course for three (3) weeks without compromising its content. In that regard the 13th and the 14th courses, which were held in Uganda and Tanzania respectively, have since then adopted the three (3) weeks module.