EAC Secretary-General cautions on Climate Change

Posted in Press Release

The Secretary-General of the East African Community, Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera has cautioned the international community that the world was at a crossroads and the outcome of the Paris Climate Conference shall either bequeath a better, safer planet to future generations, or “destroy our common heritage and our shared humanity”.

Speaking at the 21st Session of the Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also serving as the 11th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP11) currently underway in Paris, France, the Secretary-General expressed the wishes and expectations of the East African citizens on the Paris Climate Change talks and reckoned that the Agreement must take into consideration the interest of the vulnerable and poor by ensuring that adaptation is equally prioritised and differentiated responsibilities of developed and developing countries reflected in the Agreement.

Amb. Sezibera further urged that issues related to loss and damage associated with Climate Change impact must be firmly anchored in the agreement through the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage and country ownership of adaptation and mitigation programmes and projects, and ensure transparency in the provisions of financial, technology transfer and other forms of support including capacity building, which should be customised to specific needs of beneficiary countries.

“EAC is ready and committed towards supporting implementation of the Paris Agreement by supporting EAC Partner States through the process of ratification of the agreement to pave way for its early entry into force in 2020”, the Secretary-General reiterated.

The EAC official reaffirmed the region’s commitment to aligning its existing Regional Climate Change Policy (2011), the 5 year EAC Climate Change Strategy and Master Plan (2033) to the Paris Agreement as well as fast tracking the process for enacting a Regional Climate Change Bill through the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

He called for international support in the capitalisation of the EAC Climate Change Fund through pioneering the accreditation of EAC as a Regional Implementing Entities under the Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund.

Speaking at the African Day of COP21 convened under the theme; Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs): implications, prospects and Africa’s readiness to contribute to climate solutions, the Secretary-General applauded the EAC Partner States for submitting their INDCs to address climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“Information included in the INDCs should facilitate negotiations and deliver a new Climate Agreement in Paris”, said the Secretary-General. He stated that region was looking forward to the implementation of INDCs based on associated support requirements of finance, technology transfer, and capacity building to be provided by the developed countries.

He asserted that EAC was fully in support of the continental climate resilient and low carbon development initiatives and programmes such as the Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance, the African Adaptation and Loss and Damage Initiative, and the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative launched in Paris. The newly established EAC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency stands to contribute to the implementation of the latter Initiative.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference commenced on 30th November 2015 and is expected to close on 11th December 2015 by delivering a new global climate agreement negotiated by UNFCCC Parties under the Ad-hoc Working Group on Durban Platform for Enhanced Action.

Uganda are Champs in Netball as Kenya takes Men’s Volleyball

Posted in Press Release

Parliament of Uganda are the champs of the 2015 netball tournament. Parliament of Uganda beat Parliament of Kenya 45-9 in a one sided final played at the Amahoro Stadium yesterday.

Leading goal shooter, Hon. Susan Netasiire scored 33 points while Hon. Susan Amero scored 12 points for the victors. Parliament of Uganda dominated the entire match. The Parliament of Kenya replied through Hon. Dorcas Kedogo.

EALA finished third after dispatching Parliament of Rwanda 28-13. Hon. Judith Pareno and Idah Nakabhugo scored the points for the winners respectively. In men’s volleyball final, Parliament of Kenya beat Parliament of Rwanda 2 sets to 0 in a hotly contested match. The Kenyans won (25-20) and (25–20) respectively.

Today’s volleyball (women) finals will pit Parliament of Rwanda and Parliament of Kenya. The match shall be preceded by a third and fourth place finals featuring EALA and Parliament of Kenya.

In soccer, EALA will play Parliament of Uganda in the finals at the Kigali Memorial Stadium in Nyamirambo. EALA beat Parliament of Rwanda 1-0 on Tuesday while Parliament of Uganda sailed through after beating Parliament of Kenya 4-2 in penalties.

In Golf, Parliament of Kenya’s Hon. Kariuki won the tournament after garnering 36 pointers. Hon. Kariuki who is a handicap 12 beat closest challenger, Hon. Peter Mathuki of EALA, handicap 28 who got 25 points. Rwanda’s Hon. Mporanyi Theo scooped 22 points.