Four Key Bills sail through the First Reading

Posted in Press Release

East African Legislative Assembly; Arusha, Tanzania; 31 May 2017:

Four crucial Bills sailed through the First Reading in the House yesterday.

The EAC Youth Council Bill, 2017, the EAC Mining Bill 2017, the EAC Appropriation Bill 2017 and the EAC Cross Border Trade in Professional Services Bill, 2017, were read for the first time yesterday and committed to the relevant committees.

The EAC Cross Border Trade in Professional Services Bill, 2017, which is expected to be a boost to the Common Market Protocol, is moved by Hon Fred Mukasa Mbidde. The Bill hopes to provide for the conduct and regulation of Cross Border Trade in Professional Services in the Community and to make provisions for purposes connected to the practice of professions through borders of the Community.

The Bill is premised on Article 104 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC under which the Partner States undertook to adopt measures to achieve free movement of persons, labour and services and to ensure the enjoyment of the right of establishment and residence of the citizens within the Community.

At the same time, the Bill should see the operationalisation of Article 76 of the Treaty which provides for free movement of labour, goods, services, capital and the rights of establishment. In the same regard, it takes into account the provisions of article 10 on free movement of workers and Article 11 on harmonisation and mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications.

The EAC Mining Bill 2017, moved by Hon Chris Opoka-Okumu hopes to provide legal framework for the regulation of mining operations in the Community. It seeks to implement the EAC Vision 2050 and specifically to operationalise Article 114(2) (c ) (iv) of the EAC Treaty which calls for harmonisation of mining regulations to ensure environmentally friendly and sound mining practices.

The Bill further provides for a transparent and accountable mechanism for the reporting of mining and mineral related activities in the Community. It is to ultimately reduce the differences in the operating environment for the mining sector.

Not to be left behind are the youth who make a significant percentage of the EAC populace following the introduction of the EAC Youth Council Bill, 2017. The Bill moved by Hon Susan Nakawuki, is premised on Article 120 of the EAC Treaty and seeks to implement the EAC Youth Policy 2014 which is an integral part of the 4th EAC Development Strategy 2011/2012 – 2015/2016. The Bill recognises that Partner States have diverse laws and policies regarding the youth in their territories. The Bill therefore attempts to uniformalise the laws and regulations pertaining to youth in the Community.

The Appropriation Bill, 2017 on its part, makes provision for appropriation out of the budget of EAC for specified amounts of money for the services and purposes of the Community for the Financial Year ending 30th June 2018.

Parliament meets for the entire day on Wednesday, 31st May, 2017.

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For more information, please contact:

Bobi Odiko
Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-27-2508240
Fax: +255-27-2503103
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org
Web: www.eala.org

About the East African Legislative Assembly:

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives, through its Legislative, Representative and Oversight mandate. It was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

Design Competition for new Corporate Identity launched at the University of Juba, South Sudan

Posted in Press Release

East African Community Secretariat; Juba, South Sudan; 31 May 2017:

The Secretary General of South Sudan Secretariat for the East African Community, Hon. Mou Mou Athian Kuol, on Tuesday launched the design competition for a corporate identity for the EAC at the Main Hall of the University of Juba, Republic of South Sudan (RSS).

Addressing students, members of the academic and non-academic staff, Hon. Mou Mou called upon the students and youth in South Sudan to take advantage of the opportunity being offered by the Community with regard to developing a new EAC corporate identity, as directed by the EAC Council of Ministers.

Hon. Mou Mou told the university community that South Sudan’s admission to the Community was a reaffirmation of the country’s commitment to seek economic, social and cultural political integration with the citizens of the EAC, adding that RSS’s entry into the Community marked a major shift in the country’s foreign and economic policy.

“It is only since the proclamation of independence in 2011 that South Sudan was free to make its own regional and foreign policy and as part of this policy, we have made it clear that we want to be a part of EAC,” said the Secretary General.

Hon. Mou Mou told his audience that as part of integrating the RSS into the Community, the EAC Heads of State appointed Justice Dr. Charles Oyo Nyawello, from RSS as Judge to the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice during their 18th Ordinary Meeting held on 20th May, 2017 in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

“Every citizen of the regional bloc including South Sudanese can now log cases in this regional Court. South Sudan will soon becoming a part of the visa-free area of the EAC and as a result, South Sudanese citizens will no longer need visas to travel to the region and vice versa for EAC citizens travelling to South Sudan,” said Mou Mou.

He further revealed that RSS has already nominated nine Members of Parliament to the 4th East African Legislative Assembly, which will be inaugurated in July 2017 in Arusha, adding that the country had already appointed a Defence Liaison Officer from the Ministry of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs who will be shortly reporting for duty at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha.

The Secretary General urged the youth from South Sudan specializing in graphic arts and design to work hard and participate actively in the competition saying winners would be given awards.

The 24th meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning held on 30th June, 2016 in Nairobi, adopted the proposed EAC Brand Architecture Strategy and directed the EAC Secretariat to engage the Youth in the region to develop the new EAC corporate identity.

The EAC Brand Architecture Strategy proposes several activities that include re-designing a new EAC emblem and logo, developing a common unique identifier for all Organs and Institutions; developing one primary (main) EAC corporate colour and one secondary colour; and developing a single visual identity emblem for the Community.

There are several gaps that have been identified in the current EAC corporate identity, which the design competition is expected to address.

Prior to the launch of the Competition, the Secretariat undertook a sensitization workshop on the EAC Brand Architecture for the students mainly from the College of Arts, Music and Drama, who were joined by a few youth groups involved in graphic design from Juba and its environs.

Guidelines for participating in the EAC Brand Architecture Design Competition is available on www.eac.int. The Competition period is from 1st June 2017 to 31st August 2017.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.