EALA is calling for the completion of the ratification process of the EAC Peace and Security Protocol and its full implementation including the setting up of the EAC Security Council, the stand-by force, the Panel of the Wise and related institutional capacities and structures.
Consequently, the Assembly is recommending to the EAC Council of Ministers to ensure the operationalization of its (Council of Ministers) previous decisions including re-instating and directing that staff of the East African Community – African Peace and Security Architecture (EAC-APSA) structures are mainstreamed on the EAC Structures and payroll thereof.
The House also further recommends that the EAC Secretary General works closely with the African Union Structures to strengthen the EAC-APSA structures. It calls for the Secretary General to adopt a consultative leadership style and team work guided by principles of good governance within the Community. With that, the operationalization of the East African Parliamentary Institute is deemed to be of absolute necessity. Specifically, work to establish the East African Parliamentary Centre for peace and security as part of the institutional framework under EAPI is also vital.
The Assembly adopted the report of the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution on the Public hearings on the complaints raised in a motion for the Peace and Security Department at the EAC Secretariat under the African Peace and Security Architecture. The report was presented to the House by Hon Mike Sebalu on behalf of the substantive Chair, Hon Abdullah Mwinyi.
The report follows the adoption of a resolution on August 23rd, 2016, at its 136th Sitting in Arusha that required investigations on allegations of bad governance at the EAC Secretariat with reference inter alia to attempts to terminate the contracts of staff of the EAC APSA Programme. To this effect, the Speaker of EALA referred the matter to the Committee on Regional and Conflict Resolution to investigate the allegations and report back expeditiously to the House.
The EAC-APSA structures according to the Report are part and parcel of the African Union Peace and Security Frameworks, a Standing Organ of the African Union. Essentially, APSA encourages all the eight RECs to have Peace and Security Councils. At the moment only the SADC and ECOWAS blocs have the Peace and Security Councils with the other blocs (EAC included) having the dockets.
According to the report, APSA has a roadmap with three phases (2008-2010 which concentrates efforts on capacity building, phase 2 (2011 – 2013), on operationalization of the pillars and 2016 – 2018).
In June 2016, the Report states, the Secretary General gave instructions to the Director of Human Resources and Administration to terminate the contracts of APSA staff due to lack of funds to sustain their continued employment, the matter of which primarily led to the public hearing.
Hon Sebalu informed the House the Committee served notices to 22 persons comprising of the Chair, Council of Ministers, EAC Secretary General, Executives of the EAC and the affected staff.
The Committee further observed that APSA is an important institutional framework, critical to peace, security and stability in Africa and globally. It therefore stated the decision making of the Secretary General on the matter of termination of APSA staff were not done in accordance with the Rules and regulations of the EAC staff and by extension, the shut-down of the EAC-APSA structures was down without required procedures of termination.
The House was informed some of the aggrieved staff headed to the East African Court of Justice to seek redress in the matter which further complicated the matter for the Counsel to the Community. The Council of Ministers however, intervened and pronounced itself on the matter directing the Secretary General of the Community to rescind the decision and to amicably settle the matter out of Court.
The Committee in its findings reiterated a number of negative impacts premised on the decision to terminate the EAC APSA staff. Such include; immobilizing the Conflict Early Warning system that us design to aid the Community to progressively address situations that can lead to timely intervention to peace and compromising the competencies, nurtured and built over years on matters of peace and security.
During debate, Hon Francois Kalinda reiterated that the procedure of termination of staff was not followed. “The Secretary General needs to recommend to the Council based on the Human Resources Advisory Committee which was not done”
Hon Bernard Mulengani stated that decisions of the Council of Ministers need to be adhered to by the Secretary General who is the Chief Executive of the Community. The Executive should also listen to the advice of the Counsel to the Community who is the legal Advisor of the Community. The legislator demanded to know why the staff of the APSA Programme were yet to be mainstreamed in to the structure of the EAC.
He called for the amendment of the Treaty by the Summit of EAC Heads of State to vet the political appointees.Hon Dora Byamukama termed peace and security as a key component of the Community and such architecture feeds into the continental level. “We must take this aspect very seriously”, she said, adding the handling of the termination was perturbing.
The Council of Ministers need to tell us the action so far taken in terms of ensuring the security of the staff of APSA and the withdrawal of the case. She said funding was important for the Programme and requested to know if the EU funding was sustainable. “At ECOWAS, the APSA Programme is fully funded by the regional bloc. I think it is high time we took up the structure as part of the EAC funding”, she said.
Hon Emmanuel Nengo said liquidity issues continued to hamper the activities of the Community. “I think the exercise we have gone through shall help the Executive to improve work”, he said. The Legislator further said the open source (form of acquiring information) at the Early Warning Systems at the EAC may not be objective at all times and asked for Offices to be opened in each Partner State.
Hon Jean Marie Muhirwa said Peace and security were vital for progress in the region. He said funding and staffing were key to ensure sustenance of the programme. “Funding needs to be secured”, he said.
On his part, Hon Abubakar Zein noted that the Chairperson of Summit on the EAC Heads of State was clear that issues of governance must be upheld while Hon Martin Ngoga said scrutiny was now a way of life in the Community. “We must not allow anyone to act as they wish, otherwise it would disintegrate the Community”, he said.
He said it was necessary for the Assembly to remain objective in line with the Rules and Procedures if it is to be of service to the Community.Hon Angela Kizigha said the Community is rule based in line with Article 6 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC. “The decision by the Secretary General contravened the Rules and regulations of the Community. All decisions taken must be in line with Article 6”, she added.
Hon AbuBakr Ogle stated that Members had taken an Oath to serve the Community and the interests of the bloc should take precedence over all matters. He reiterated the need for the Executive to engage in consultative leadership
“At the moment, there is litigation in the matter pending before the East African Court of Justice and is expected to resume in March 2017” the Counsel to the Community, Hon Dr Anthony Kafumbe said. “I am confident that the matter shall be settled amicably and come to some settlement before then”, he added.
The Secretary General of the EAC, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko, said his action was done in good faith, adding that funding was indeed a challenge for the Community. He said the APSA Project as at April 2016, had a deficit of over USD 300,000 and the Community was indeed giving money to the project at that time.
He said the Executives, heads of Institutions and staff had been consulted during a consultative meeting in May 2016. “Further to that, under staff Rules 37, the Secretary General is advised by a Committee that includes the Deputy Secretary General, the Counsel to the Community and the Directors of Finance and Administration and Human Resources among others” he stated.
He remarked that letters of rescinding their termination were however written on the recommendations of the Council and said the contracts were further renewed in December 2016 until the end of the Financial Year (2016/17).
Others who supported the report were Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema and Hon Sarah Bonaya.The Chair of the Council of Ministers, Hon Dr Susan A. Kolimba assured the House the Secretariat follows the Rules and Regulations of the Community as laid down. We undertake to assist the Secretary General and the Secretariat in ensuring the rules and regulations are done.
She remarked that the Council was also making follow-up to ensure the remaining two Partner States duly ratify the Peace and Security Protocol.
An EAC Protection of people with albinism Bill, 2016 is in the offing with the House granting its mover, Hon Shyrose Bhanji leave to introduce the Bill.
The object of the Bill is to prohibit the discrimination against people suffering with albinism and to ensure affirmative action in their favour. It also stipulates the sanctions against those who indulge in suffocating the rights of persons with Albinism. The Bill hopes to put in place sanctions including conviction of those who discriminate against albinos.
The object of the Act is to promote dignity and equal opportunities for persons with albinism. The Bill seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination of persons with albinism on grounds of their disability.
“There are people with albinism who are killed in face of negative beliefs and witchcraft. We live in a modern society and such beliefs have no place in the world today”, Such killings should be stopped and are criminal”, Hon Bhanji said. “We must also put in place/propagate for affirmative action for those with albinism”, she added.
Rising in support of the Motion were Hon Mike Sebalu, Hon Maryam Ussi Yahya, Hon Dr James Ndahiro, Hon Patricia Hajabakiga and Hon AbuBakr Ogle. Other Members were Hon Abubakar Zein, Hon Valerie Nyirahabineza and Hon Taslima Twaha.
The regional workshop for rapid Drug quality verification and falsified medicines detection using Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF) Minilabs concluded on 20th January, 2017 at the School of Health Sciences in Zanzibar.
The 16th to 20th January, 2017 workshop covered training of Partner States Drug Inspectors, Laboratory Analysts and Pharmacists on the use of the Minilab systems and allowed for exchange of experiences among experts from all EAC Partner States except South Sudan. The content of the workshop is drawn from existing guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pharmacopoeias and other compendia as well as the Global Pharma Health Fund’s long-term Minilab project work on the detection of counterfeit medicines using simple pharmaceutical analysis.
The overall objective of the workshop was to train drug Inspectors on how to test basic and vital anti-infective medicines such as anti-microbial, anti-retroviral, anti-malarial, anti-hypertensive and anti-tuberculosis that would be instantly life-threatening when they are contained in spurious quantities or do not meet international best standards.
Addressing the workshop participants during the official handing-over of six minilabs to the Chief Pharmacist in the Zanzibari Ministry of Health, the EAC Director of Productive Sectors, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, who represented the EAC Deputy Secretary General (Productive and Social Sectors) thanked the German Metrology Institute (PTB) for accepting to supply a total of 20 GPHF minilabs to the National Medicines Regulatory Authorities in Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar and Burundi. Havugimana also thanked the Zanzibar authorities and the College of Health, Zanzibar for hosting the workshop.
He disclosed that the supply of minilabs and training of EAC Drug Inspectors will yield tangible results to the EAC population who require high quality standards medicines free from counterfeits and falsified products.
“I am proud of this achievement. It is a tangible result which EAC as a whole and Partner States and in particular Medicines Regulatory Authorities need to be proud of. Minilabs will go a long way in helping the Republic of Rwanda, Burundi, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zanzibar in setting up a functioning decentralized market surveillance system that is able to protect EAC citizens, who are the intended beneficiaries, consumers from falsified drugs,” said the Director.
In his remarks, the Chief Pharmacist from the Ministry of Health of Zanzibar, Dr. Habib Ali Shariff, said that the Zanzibar Food and Drug Board is actively participating in regional harmonization initiatives and has already amended their regulations to strengthen medicines regulatory capacity for the betterment of the EAC population.
Dr. Shariff said that circulation of substandard products is a global problem and therefore, it is the responsibility of every Medicines Regulatory Agency to ensure supply of quality medicines to the end users.
The regional workshop on GPHF Minilab funded by German Metrology Institute saw 15 Drug Inspectors from EAC Partner States who participated in the workshop being awarded certificates for completion of the Training of Trainers workshop.
The Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, concluded a working visit to two EAC Institutions, the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO). The Deputy Secretary General also toured the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI).
Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization
As part of the Deputy Secretary General’s familiarization tour of the EAC Institutions based in the Republic of Uganda, on the sidelines of the ongoing 5th Session of the East African Legislative Assembly sitting in Kampala, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo met the management and staff of LVFO, led by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Godfrey Mono.
Mr. Mono briefed the EAC official on the milestones LVFO has undertaken as the specialized institution of the Community with the mandate to manage fisheries and aquaculture for food security and wealth creation within the region.
Hon. Bazivamo commended the staff for the impressive institutional achievements despite the challenges the institution was facing.
In winding up his visit to LVFO, Hon. Bazivamo was taken on a tour of Kamik Fish Factory (Unifood) in Gomba village in Central Division in Jinja Municipality, which was gutted and burnt down by fire on 9th January 2017.
As a specialized and autonomous institution of the EAC, the programmes and activities of the LVFO are in line with the vision and strategy framework for the management of the Lake Victoria Basin developed by the EAC in 2003, and the Protocol for Sustainable Development of Lake Victoria. The operations of the LVFO are also guided by the Administrative Principles embedded in the EAC Treaty especially Article 7 which spells out the principle of subsidiarity whereby decisions are proposed at national level, harmonized and agreed upon at regional level and implemented at national level.
Inter-University Council for East Africa
At the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), Professor Alexandre Lyambabaje, informed the Deputy Secretary General that the Institution’s main mission is to promote strategic and sustainable development of higher education systems and research for supporting East Africa’s socio-economic development and regional integration.
Prof. Lyambabaje said that the demand for higher education in East Africa has been growing tremendously since the last decade with the number of public and private university institutions increasing exponentially. For example, the number of IUCEA member university institutions has grown from 33 in 2000 to 115 at present (2016/7). At the same time, IUCEA had experienced considerable institutional growth within the same period, which has led to expansion in activities.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that IUCEA was continuously setting policy strategies and developing appropriate interventions so as to ensure that it (IUCEA) remains relevant and effective in serving the Community.
Hon. Bazivamo commended Professor Alexandre Lyambabaje and his team at IUCEA for developing a resource mobilization strategy to mitigate financial challenges being faced by the EAC Institution.
Uganda Industrial Research Institute
At the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), the Deputy Secretary General met and held discussions with the management led by the Executive Director, Prof. Charles Kwesiga. UIRI, among others, engages in applied research and other activities (such as value addition) to steer rapid industrialization in Uganda. The East African Community has recognized the Institute as a Regional Center of Excellence in Research and Development (R&D).
UIRI traces its roots to the East African Federation of the 1970, as a precursor of the then East African Research Services Organization (EARSO), which was headquartered in Nairobi and served as a regional Research and Development institution for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Upon collapse of the East African Federation, the EARSO was disbanded in 1977, and later transformed into the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute. Tanzania followed with establishment of the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization. It was not until 2002 that Uganda fully established and legally sanctioned UIRI.
EALA yesterday granted Members leave of absence to introduce three key Bills. The EAC Youth Council Bill, 2017, the EAC Mining Bill, 2017 and the EAC Cross Border Trade in Professional Services Bill 2016 are set to be introduced to the House.
The EAC Youth Council Bill, 2017 is to be moved by Hon Susan Nakawuki. The Object of the Bill is to provide for the establishment of the EAC Youth Council within the EAC and to provide for its composition, objects and functions, administration finances and all matters incidental.
Members who rose in support of the motion termed the Bill timely in its quest to mainstream youth issues in all EAC development policies and programmes. The Assembly Members said it was necessary to have an institutional framework to have Youth express themselves and also have them gear up to take responsibilities in development in all sectors of the Community.
The EAC Youth Council among other things anticipates provision of unified and integrated system through which the youth may communicate and co-ordinate their ideas, and encourage them (youth) to consolidate their role in development in the economic, social, cultural and educational fields.
Hon Mukasa Mbidde also got the greenlight to introduce the EAC Cross Border Trade in Professional Services Bill, 2016. According to the mover, professionals are allowed to crisscross the region as they render their services in line with the Common Market Protocol. The Bill also takes into cognisance the exceptions with respect to movements, the threshold of the Common Market Protocol with respect to the freedoms and rights, the mutual recognitions in place as well as the Principle of variable geometry.
On his part, Hon Abdullah Mwinyi said Partner States need to harmonise their laws in line with adoption of common approaches as envisaged under Article 120. Hon AbuBakr Ogle however cited a similar Bill brought to the floor of the House by Hon Dora Byamukama. The schedules of the Common Market Protocol in their current format are also not open for all professions but certain aspects/sectors. There is need to attach the list/schedules of Professional services, the Bill seeks to cure/ harmonise across the Partner States”, he said.
At the moment, architectures and engineers are among the professions that have completed their Mutual Recognition Agreements while that of Lawyers is still pending.The House also granted leave to Hon Chris Opoka to move the EAC Mining Bill 2016. The Bill is premised on the EAC Vision 2050 and to operationalize Article 114(2)(c)(iv) of the Treaty which specifically calls for the harmonization of mining regulations to ensure environmentally friendly and sound mining practices. Additionally, the Bill is to give effect to the short term (up to 5 years from the date the vision is adopted).
The Bill is also to provide a transparent and accountable mechanisms for the reporting of mining and mineral related activities in the Community. Ultimately, this Bill is to reduce the differences in the operating environment for the mining industry among the member countries of the region.
Last week, the House also granted leave to Hon Dr Odette Nyiramilimo to introduce the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill, 2017 which shall provide for matters relating to sexual and reproductive health, to protect children, adolescents and young children from sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation and to provide for assisted reproductive technology and for related matters.
The Assembly pursuant to the provisions of Article 59 (1) of the Treaty and Rule 64 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly can grant leave for introduction of Private Members.
The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, over the weekend presided over the Ministerial Session of the 12th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP).
The Ministerial Session was attended by five Ministers: Dr. Eng. Seleshi Bekele (Minister of Water Irrigation and Electricity, Ethiopia); Eng. Tarek El Molla (Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Egypt); Hon. Dr. Tabitha Boutros (Minister of State for Electricity and Dams, Sudan), Eng. Irene Muloni (Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda), and; Prof. Sospeter Muhongo (Minister for Energy and Minerals, Tanzania), who also chaired the Ministerial Session.
Prof. Sospeter Muhongo, Minister for Energy and Minerals, Tanzania, who also chaired the Ministerial Session while officially opening the Ministerial Session thanked the Ministers for their continued support and commitment to the EAPP project.
In his remarks, EAC Secretary General Amb. Mfumukeko emphasized the importance of the EAPP in contributing to socio-economic growth in East Africa.
“The provision of adequate, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy services is a key priority area in our energy sector for realizing the vision we have for East Africa as well as electricity interconnectivity across borders to promote the broader EAC objective of attracting investment and promoting competitiveness and trade,” he said.
Amb. Liberat urged EAPP to engage with the EAC Secretariat and its Partner States in the formulation of the 10-year Strategic Action Plan which will address the underlying challenges within the energy sector across the region.
EAPP’s main objective is to optimize development of energy resources in the region and to ease the access to electricity power supply to all citizens of the countries in the Eastern Africa Region through the regional power interconnections.
Member countries of the region have actively been implementing power generation and transmission projects. Most of the interconnection projects are now progressing so fast that before 2020 all of EAPP's members, except Libya and Egypt, will be interconnected by power exchange (trade). Libya and Egypt are already connected but the proposed link between Egypt and Sudan is now at feasibility study stage.
Present at the meeting were senior officers from the member countries’ energy sectors, Independent Regulatory Board members and Development Partners including the World Bank, Power Africa, Sweden, African Development Bank, Norway and China.
The participants engaged in discussions around Bilateral Trading Platforms which is part of EAPP’s future prospects. This will make it easier to enter into short term bi-lateral trades between EAPP members and EAPP members and non-EAPP members that they are interconnected with. It also aspires to facilitate the trading of electrical products (energy, capacity, reserves) and transportation (transmission).
Members of the Steering Committee, energy stakeholders and partners present at the meeting also discussed the status of the EAPP Interconnection Code Compliance Program, considered priority areas for mobilization of funds and explored renewable energy resources development and alternative transmission financing modalities.
As part of the milestones EAPP has so far achieved is development of a detailed Process and Principles documents that provides a step by step stakeholder process (simulates regulatory process) and technical guidance. This is to support transmission of firm power sale from Ethiopia to Tanzania (200 MWs) for 20 years.
At the closing session, Prof. Muhongo cited that EAPP was also looking to standardize willing charges among its member states in order to facilitate smooth exchange of power within the region. He also handed the over Chairmanship to Eng. Irene Muloni, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development who will chair the Council of Ministers for the next year.
EALA is strongly recommending for strict compliance with the EAC Financial Rules and regulations and punitive action taken for those who violate the same in the wake of malpractices in the procurement of the group life insurance for the EAC.
Consequently, the need to enact laws on financial and procurement management is now a necessity. With it, the Secretariat is also required to ensure there is continuous life insurance cover to the Community and should not expose Members of the Assembly and the staff of the Community to risks.
The above are contained in a raft of recommendations in the Report of the Committee on Legal Rules and Privileges on the matter of investigation of Procurement of Group Life Insurance Company for the EAC adopted by the House today. The Assembly has meanwhile resolved that all recommendations be effected and that the Council of Ministers reports back to the House by March 2017.
The investigation arose following a Motion raised by Hon Bernard Mulengani on matters of public importance including among others, allegations of irregularities in the procurement of Group Life Insurance and insurance of Members for the period between the period 1st July 2016 and 30th June 2017.
The Speaker then referred the matter to the Committee on Legal Rules and Privileges for investigation.
The Report was presented to the House yesterday but debate left for this morning following a Motion moved by Hon Mumbi Ngaru under Rule 14 of the Rules of Procedure to allow for the Assembly Members, more time to digest the report.
Presenting the report to the House yesterday, Chairman of the Legal Rules and Privileges, Hon Peter Mathuki stated that 7 Bidders for the Group life Insurance included SunLamp Life Insurance (Tanzania), Alliance Life Insurance (Tanzania), Britam Life Assurance Company (Kenya) and Liberty Life Assurance (Kenya). Others were ICEA Lion Assurance (Kenya), Metropolitan Cannon Assurance (Kenya) and Jubilee Insurance (Kenya).
The Procurement Committee according to the Report reviewed the procurement process and verified it was conducted within the provisions of Regulations and a notice of award of contract to the Britam Life Assurance Company (Kenya) limited for Group life and Personal Accident cover. A lowest evaluated bidder notice was uploaded on the EAC website giving a holding period of 14 days after approval of the selected contractor in accordance with regulation 78 (3) of the Financial Rules and Regulations and no complaints were received. However, later, there was a revocation of notice of award of contract to M/S Britam and extension of contract awarded to M/S Liberty.
According to the Report, the Secretary General appointed a review team comprising of 4 Officers to undertake a review of the procurement process of Group Life insurance, a move the Committee affirmed was irregular and maintained such appointment undermines the independence of the procurement process and stifles the functioning of the Community.
The Committee further observed the whole process of extension of contract was irregular because management did not obtain approvals from the Procurement Committee, extended an expired contract while ignoring legal opinion from the Counsel to the Community.
“Issues of value for money, effective competition, Transparency and Accountability were further disregarded”, the report said in part.
The Committee however further noted the Secretary General informed them the files had since been cleaned and that the negotiations with Britam had proceeded and the contract was already signed and insurance cover duly in place.
The Committee observed new developments in terms of reforms by the Secretary General to include changes of composition of the current Procurement Committee and the appointment of alternative Members to sit in absence of the substantive Members.
At the same time, the Secretary General is making it mandatory for the Procurement Committee to hire or co-opt an expert from inside or outside EAC for any procurement of USD 100,000 and above.
During debate, Hon Bernard Mulengani said the credibility of the Community stood to be eroded if the regulations are flouted and called for sterner measures and further investigations to be carried out. He remarked that it was important to copy international standards such as the UN to the fullest.
The legislator said the Community’s management needed to adhere to principles of governance and to live by example. He said it was vital for the Audit Commission to look into the areas raised on the report.
Hon Martin Ngoga said there were shortcomings in the instruments in place of accountability and this needed to be corrected. He said the exercise was a technical one and it had no intention of targeting any Partner State. “No Partner State condones malpractices in any case”, he said.
Hon Mumbi Ngaru said there was need to give the Executive Office (Secretary General) time to transit smoothly. The Member said, it was vital for the Committee to have dialogue with the Executive and the same made available in the report.
Hon Abubakar Zein said the report was akin to cases of attempted fraud, conspiracy, and serious irregularities. “The management also ignored the legal advise of the Counsel to the Community and in so doing put the Community and those who serve it at risk”, Hon Zein said. The legislator said the monies contributed towards the running of the Community was taken from the publics and there is need to guard the monies. He called for the total break of the matters of impunity. He asked the Council of Ministers to ensure corruption is addressed for the posterity of the Community.
Hon Dr James Ndahiro said the issues contained in the report were largely managerial in nature. He said the Assembly was mandated to flag out issues but without no capacity to fix.
“The role of the Audit Commission is not only to audit financial issues but other glaring issues as well. It is important for the Council of Minsters’ to ensure the Audit Commission ensures the recommendations contained in the report are adhered to.”, Hon Dr Ndahiro said.
Hon Nancy Abisai said integrity was fundamental. She added that violation of rules and regulations need sterner measures to be taken. Hon Mike Sebalu said the Committee had made firm observations but that the recommendations needed to be stronger.
Hon Isabelle Ndahayo called for the external auditors to do more scrutiny on the issue and report back to the House. She called for respect of procedures and authority.
Others who supported the report were Hon Patricia Hajabakiga, Hon Mukasa Mbidde and Hon Leonce Ndarubagiye.
The Secretary General, Hon Amb Liberat Mfumukeko said as the Chief Accounting Officer, he put to halt the procurement process owing to flaws including the lack of quorum and other irregularities. He mentioned that the Internal Audit department had similarly realized a number of flaws in the process.
“I could not endorse the report of the Procurement Committee to give the contract to Britam, but it was necessary to have consultations with the Executives in station to come up with a way forward. We had to be covered and so decided to extend the contract to M/S Liberty (the existing Company) until such time, the final decision is made”, he said.
The Secretary General affirmed that some of the processes had to be re-done and the process was duly followed.
“I want to confirm that the Community is doing a number of things and we need to keep the confidence of stakeholders up”, he added.“As Accounting Officer, I am committed to reforms geared to correcting challenges faced in the Community. Last year for example, we passed the Fiduciary Risk Assessment and the EAC Accounting Department was ISO certified”, he said. “ We have indeed made some progress”, he added.
The Secretary General further appreciated the Assembly and thanked them for their oversight role which enables the Community to improve.
Hon Chair of the Council of Ministers, Dr Susan A. Kolimba, affirmed that the Council of Ministers would take into consideration all the recommendations contained in the report.
EALA this morning congratulated Government of Rwanda following its move to start a legislative process towards making Kiswahili one of the official languages in the country.
The Resolution passed this morning and moved by Hon Shyrose Bhanji, follows a Cabinet Meeting held on October 12th, 2016 in Rwanda, that passed the draft law seeking to make Kiswahili one of the official languages of the Assembly.
The move now awaits the consideration, discussion and approval by the Parliament of Rwanda before becoming law. The Assembly thus urges Parliament of Rwanda to expeditiously consider the Cabinet’s Resolution
Article 119 of the EAC Treaty, provides for the development and promotion of indigenous languages especially Kiswahili as a lingua franca of the region.
Kiswahili is not only a unifying language spoken by East Africans but it is rich in dialect and expression.
“It is widely spoken in the EAC countries as well as some countries in the Central and Southern part of Africa making it one of the most popular language spoken in the Continent after Arabic”, the Resolution says in part.
Justifying the Motion, Hon Shyrose Bhanji hailed the President of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame and the Cabinet for the decision to begin the process of making Kiswahili an official language. She urged the citizens of the country to embrace Kiswahili, which she termed the language of unity.
At debate time, Hon Martin Ngoga said Kiswahili was a strong unifying tool and that it would make the integration story to be less elitist. “Definitely, Kiswahili will create a strong bond among East Africans”, Hon Ngoga said. “I congratulate the mover”, he added.
Hon Nancy Abisai remarked that sensitization about the Kiswahili language was key especially in Uganda to enhance awareness amongst the citizens given that Kiswahili is a common language for the region.
Hon Abubakar Zein said the region was waiting and looking forward to the time when the Assembly would embrace Kiswahili in its debates. “All Heads of State in the Community have embraced Kiswahili. It is a beautiful language”, he said.
On his part, Hon Adam Kimbisa said the citizens of East African Community were the custodians of Swahili and need to guide and guard the language. “Rwanda has thus shown the way in the process of east africanisation of the language”, he added.
Hon Joseph Kiangoi however remarked that it was important for the Cabinet Resolution to be brought to the House (EALA) to inform the regional Assembly. Hon AbuBakr Ogle said there were pertinent issues to be considered once Kiswahili becomes an official language including translation of vital documents.
Others who contributed to the debate were Hon Mike Sebalu, Hon Patricia Hajabakiga, Hon Dora Byamukama and the Minister for State for EAC Affairs, Hon Wandera Julius Maganda.
In August 2016, EALA passed a Resolution to urge the Summit of EAC to amend the Treaty for the establishment of the Community to provide for Kiswahili as one of the official Languages of the Community.
At the same time, the Assembly urged the Council of Ministers to allocate adequate resources to EAC Kiswahili Commission to effectively carry out its mandate.
EALA today administered an Oath of Allegiance to Hon. Francois Kanimba, Minister of Trade, Industry and EAC, Republic of Rwanda, as an Ex-Officio of the Assembly.
The new Member took the Oath of Allegiance to the EAC Treaty, in accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly in an occasion, administered by the Clerk of EALA, before the EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Daniel F. Kidega.
The Rules of Procedure say in part Rule 5 (4) that: “No Member can sit or participate in the proceedings of the House until the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the Treaty is taken”.
Rule 5(5) specifically states that “when a Member first attends to take his or her seat other than at the first Sitting of a new House, he or she shall be brought to the table by two Members and presented by them to the Speaker who shall then administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance”.
Hon Francois Kanimba was ushered into the House by Hon Martin Ngoga and Hon Patricia Hajabakiga.In a Cabinet reshuffle on October 4th, 2016, the EAC Affairs Ministry was merged with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to form the Ministry of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs, with Hon François Kanimba retained as the Minister. He replaces Amb Valentine Rugwabiza, former Minister of EAC Affairs in Rwanda, who was appointed Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to New York.
Hon Kanimba is a long serving Minister in the Government of Rwanda. He was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry of Rwanda on 10th May 2011. Under Hon Kanimba’s leadership, in the Ministry, Rwanda developed new strategies to promote a competitive private sector and expand the export base of the country.
This is after a long career as an economist and banker. Hon Kanimba was a long serving Governor of the Central Bank of Rwanda (2002-2011), having risen to the position from First Deputy Governor. He previously co-ordinated the World Bank operations in Rwanda in the areas of Macroeconomic Management and Private Sector Development. He was previously, Chairman of the Governance Task Force which negotiated the first Structural Adjustment Program in Rwanda supported by the World Bank, IMF and other Development Partners.
Hon Kanimba is a graduate of Engineering in Statistics and Economics from the European Centre for Training Economists and Statisticians for Developing Countries (Paris 1983).
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is rooting for enhanced economic integration as an impetus to ensuring a stronger bloc necessary for the region’s prosperity. Addressing EALA at the commencement of the 4th Meeting of the 5th Session in Kampala late yesterday, the Head of State called on the region to embrace “a Make EAC, Buy EAC” initiative in order to protect jobs and stimulate investments in the market.
President Museveni called on the region to take advantage of its population size which he termed a resource for the EAC. “If there is wealth of the East African region, which many do not talk about often – this is the population of the region. It is one of the most important factors given that it has 162 Million people including Republic of South Sudan”, President Museveni said. The President maintained population of the EAC was a wealth creator made up of producers of goods and services through offering skilled, unskilled and intellectual competencies as well as consumers.
The President said textiles, apparels, shoes and automotive constitute some of the industries whose products could either be made in the region or locally assembled. The President gave a further example of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia saying the northern neighbour was today prioritizing local assemblage of motor vehicles.
He said the time had come for the region to begin discarding the importation of second-hand clothes (Mitumba) saying Uganda was spending over 880 Million Dollars annually on textiles coming from outside the region.
“We (EAC) cannot continue to be a market for imports,” the Head of State said. “We need to use the policy instruments to ensure local production”, he added.
The President said the region was consolidating on its gains in Infrastructure and said opening of a new Berth at the port of Mombasa, construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, improvement of roads in the Republics of Kenya and Tanzania, as well as stable electricity would ensure the costs of doing business were reduced.
He reiterated that EAC Political Federation would in the long run, ensure stability and the future safety of Africa and termed unification of the region as a strategic security for the EAC in the face of the world powers.
“One Partner State in the region cannot do it alone, we must stay united. We must therefore enhance and talk about Political Federation,” President Museveni said.
The President called for the conservation of the environment saying it was a serious issue that needs to be addressed. He maintained that Uganda and the EAC region would need to restore the wetlands as a matter of priority, and avoid tilling the surrounding areas to grow rice and other crops, saying the practice was further debilitating the amount of rain across the entire EAC region.
President Museveni hailed East Africans for fighting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) saying the cultural practice was outdated and cruel. On social cohesion, the President rooted for Kiswahili saying it was a unifying factor for the entire region. He said Kiswahili was widely spoken among the over 160 Million inhabitants at the EAC.
In attendance were key government officials, legislators from the Parliament of Uganda, representatives of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the private sector as well as the representatives of the EAC Youth Ambassadors platform among others.
In his welcome remarks, the Speaker of the EALA, Rt. Hon Daniel F. Kidega noted that the Sitting was taking place at an irreversible time in the regional integration process.
He called on the region to prioritise food security in the advent of climate change and to have contingency programs to address the looming famine, the region was likely to face.
“I have recently traversed the region and noticed the dire lack of rains”, he said. “Governments likewise should strengthen irrigation systems, promote joint water-conservation efforts, early warning systems, research, extension and training”, he added.
The Speaker called for the maintenance of peace and security in the region saying the stability of Partner States was vital for progress. He urged the region to embrace democratic ideals and good governance. The Speaker further called for free and fair elections in the region.
“Democratic elections are critical as the reverse could pose serious challenges to our stability, demoralize investors and lead to slow-down of economies. Adherence to Constitutions and electoral laws on the part of the leaders, politicians and electoral regulatory bodies is therefore key”, the Speaker said.
“On the other side, citizens must exercise their constitutional rights in a just manner, well aware that choices have consequences. At this juncture, I wish our Sister Partner States of Kenya and Rwanda who are going to polls in 2017 free, peaceful and credible elections”, he added.
The EALA Speaker noted that the 3rd Assembly had made progress and cited some of the milestones realized including enactment of 25 Bills, adoption of 63 Resolutions and passage of 80 reports. The Assembly has likewise streamlined sensitization activities as well as other governance instruments including the Rules of Procedure.
At the Plenary, the Assembly has the following notable business:
Debate on the Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016, Administration of the East African Court of Justice Bill, 2016 and the EAC Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Bill, 2016.
Receive and debate on various Reports of Committees of EALA including that of the audit and on the status of railway infrastructure development in the Partner States.
In addition, we expect to debate on specific Motions, pass Resolutions and pose questions to the Council of Ministers.
This is the last Sitting of the Assembly in the Republic of Uganda in line with the Principle of rotation. The Assembly which has two more sittings before its tenure ends in June 2017.
