EALA lauds region’s Founding First Ladies
The original East African Community (1967-77) may be defunct but the feelings it evoked are still revered. They also say that behind every successful man is a woman, a mantra whose plurality is often sought. Today, the Assembly passed a Resolution hailing the first ladies of the integration process, Mama Maria Nyerere, Mama Miriam Obote and Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
The Resolution collectively registers EALA’s appreciation to the former First Ladies as a way of recognising the role they played and continue to play in galvanising East Africa in the integration process. They further hail the First Ladies for their continued service to the region as “informal institutional memory”.
The Resolution requests the founding First Ladies to attend and address a Special Sitting of the East African Legislative Assembly in the next Plenary Sitting of the 6th sitting of the 4th Session of the 3rd Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Resolution was moved by Hon. Mumbi Ng’aru and seconded by Hon. Shyrose Bhanji and Hon. Chris Opoka – Okumu.
Hon. Mumbi Ng’aru said that the contribution of women in the integration process of priceless. According to Article 5 (3) e) talks about role of women in cultural political development. Their contribution is indeed fundamental. She said that in April 2014, women Members of Parliamnt of EALA under the leadership of the Speaker Emeritus, Hon. Margaret Nantongo Zziwa visited Mama Maria Nyerere in Dar es Salaam.
“In the two hours we spent together in Dar, we found her ideas to be informative and transformational. She is indeed a rich library of integration”, Hon. Ng’aru said.
The Kenyan EALA Chapter had also held a session with Mama Ngina Kenyatta last year in Gatundu, Kenya and added, the interaction was crucial.
Hon. Chris Opoka Okumu remarked that the first ladies played a crucial role behind the scenes in the integration process.
“They cheered the dream on with the founder Summit Members. The first ladies were all resilient and their contribution to the integration process is fundamental”, Hon. Opoka said.
“Mama Miriam Obote was a brilliant student and the marriage with Milton Obote was crucial given the history of the country. She was also the first elected woman in Uganda to head a political party. She also became the first woman to contest at the Presidential candidate in Uganda and has continued to work for the reconciliation of all Ugandans”, Hon. Opoka added.
Hon. Hafsa Mossi supported the interaction between EALA and the first ladies, saying it would be a great learning experience.
Hon. Shyrose Bhanji appreciated the founding fathers of the EAC remarking that their vision to help East Africa be one was heroic. In 1999, we launched the second EAC, a realisation of the founding fathers’ vision thus continued.
“I salute our founding first ladies for been a force behind the integration by been of great support to their husbands. As luck would have it, the first ladies have witnessed the 1st EAC and the 2nd EAC where EAC has since expanded from 3 countries to 5 Partner States and eventually 6 with the entry of Republic of South Sudan. Let us all agree to honour the beloved women to grace the August House in Arusha at the forthcoming Plenary”, Hon. Bhanji said.
Hon. Sarah Bonaya remarked that the first ladies had been instrumental as pioneers of integration, When President Kenyatta was imprisoned, the first lady shuttled between Nairobi and Maralal where he was incarcerated.
Hon. Makongoro Nyerere narrated the fall of the first EAC and remarked that role of the first ladies in galvanising EAC was key while Hon. AbuBakr Ogle said EALA members at the visit of Mama Ngina in her Gatundu home had learnt a lot from her and hoisted the EAC flag there.
Hon. Dora Byamukama said it was vital for history of the first ladies to be documented remarking that all were unique in one way or another in the service and contribution to the strengthening of the EAC.
Others who supported the Resolution were Hon. Nancy Abisai, Hon. Dr Kessy Nderakindo, Hon. Frederic Ngenzebuhoro and Hon. Joseph Kiangoi.
The next Sitting of the Assembly is set for May 22nd 2016 up until June 3rd, 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania.