Posted in Press Release
East African Legislative Assembly; Arusha, Tanzania; 02 June 2017:
EALA yesterday considered and approved a Budget estimates for the Financial Year 2017/2018, totaling $110,130,183.
Uganda’s State Minister for EAC, Hon Julius Maganda, last week presented the Budget Speech to an attentive House on behalf of the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC, Uganda and Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers, Hon Dr. Ali Kirunda Kivenjija.
The Budget is allocated to the Organs and Institutions of the EAC as follows; East African Community Secretariat ($60, 183, 201), East African Legislative Assembly ($17, 996, 959) and the East African Court of Justice ($4,140,166).
The Inter-University Council for East Africa shall receive ($6,766,928), Lake Victoria Basin Commission ($11,960,643) while $ 2,466,655 is earmarked for the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization. On their part, the East African Science and Technology Commission shall receive ($ 1,500, 164), East African Kiswahili Commission ($ 1,553,098) and the East African Health Research Commission ($ 2,225,324). The East African Competition Authority is to benefit from $1,337,045 in the Financial Year 2017/18.
The 2017/2018 Budget is to be financed by Partner State contributions through the Ministries of EAC Affairs ($50,226,522); Ministries responsible for Education – ($ 4,848,431) and Ministries responsible for Fisheries ($ 1, 549,254). Development Partners will support the Community to the tune of ($52, 868,638) while Member Universities will inject in to the kitty $ 303, 435. The miscellaneous revenue is pegged at $ 333,903.
The 2017/2018 Budget themed: “Accelerating Implementation of the EAC Integration Agenda” is a step-up from $101,374,589 presented to the House in the previous Financial Year. The Budget speech prioritizes on the consolidation of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) to cover all imports and intra-EAC traded goods, infrastructure development in the region and further liberalization of free movement of skilled labour across the Partner States.
The approval of the Budget speech was preceded by adoption of the Report on the EAC Budget presented by the Chair of the General Purpose Committee, Hon Dr Odette Nyiramilimo.
Several Members supported the debate. Hon James Ndahiro who suggested the amendment of the Budget Act to ensure that Financial Rules and Regulations need to be updated to reflect the current activities of the Community. On her part, Hon Emerence Bucumi said it was necessary for more funds to be injected into the agriculture sector.
It was noted that the EAC Budget for the Financial Year 2016/2017 had witnessed an unprecedented low outrun due to delay or non-remittance of funds from Partner States and Development Partners. As at15 May 2017, remittance of funds from Partner States stood at 43% resulting in delay of most planned programmes/activities.
Members therefore underscored the need for commitment and timely remittance of funds to guarantee effective implementation and set priorities in the EAC Budget Financial Year 2017/2018.
The Committee is of the view that a well thought out and co-ordinated approach to resource mobilization should be adopted by the Institutions in collaboration with the EAC Secretariat.
The Chairman of the Council of Ministers Hon. Dr Kirunda Kivenjija reiterated the need for further co-operation between the Council and the EALA.
Other Members who contributed to the debate were Hon. Mumbi Ngaru, Hon Dora Byamukama, Hon Susan Nakawuki, Hon Bernard Mulengani and Hon. Straton Ndikuryayo. Hon. Chris Opoka, Hon Shyrose Bhanji, Hon. Valerie Nyirahabineza, Hon.Nancy Abisai and the Secretary General of the Community, Hon Liberat Mfumukeko also gave a nod to the Committee Report.
Last week, Minister Maganda highlighted a number of achievements registered in the Financial Year 2016/2017, notably, the upscaling of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) through finalisation of operational instruments of the business manuals, deployment of SCT Monitoring and Evaluation tools and deployment of staff in some Partner States.
Following the successes registered during the initial stages of the Single Customs Territory, the roll out of goods cleared under the Single Customs Territory was expanded both on the Northern and Central Corridors.
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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.
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.
- ENDS -
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.
