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Presidents Museveni and Kikwete expected to address the Assembly
EAC Headquarters, Arusha, Friday 5 February 2010: The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is to hold its 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Session of the Second Assembly in the Chambers of the Uganda Parliament in Kampala, Uganda from 8 to 19 February 2010. The Assembly will be sitting in the Parliamentary Chambers of the Parliament of Uganda in accordance with Article 55 (1) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
The Assembly, to be presided over by the Speaker, Hon Abdirahin Haithar Abdi, will among others debate EAC Tourism and Wildlife Management Bill, 2008 (2nd and 3rd Reading); Lake Victoria Basin Commission Bill (2nd and 3rd Reading); and EAC Election Bill (2nd Reading). It will also receive progress reports from the 7 House Committees namely; House Business; Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution; Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources; Communication, Trade and Investment; Legal, Rules and Privileges; General Purpose; and Accounts.
Subject to confirmation, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda (host) and Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Chairperson of EAC Summit of the Heads of State and President of the United Republic of Tanzania have been scheduled to address the Assembly on a wide range of issues pertaining to the EAC regional integration.
A regional Conference on People with Disabilities (PwD) to be hosted by EALA and the EAC Secretariat will crown the Kampala sitting from 19 to 20 February 2010 at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
The 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Session of the Second Assembly is taking place when several activities geared at widening and deepening the integration process are taking place within the Community. The signing of the Protocol for the Establishment of the East African Community Common Market in November last year and the ongoing process by the Partner States to ratify it by May this year; the successful hosting by EALA of the 5th Inter-Parliamentary Relations Seminar popularly known as the Nanyuki Series with the theme “The Common Market Protocol: Prospects, Challenges and Opportunities” from January 28 - 30, 2010 in Bujumbura, Burundi; the ongoing preparation for the EAC’s first ever Summit on Food Security and Climate Change to take place 25-26 March 2010; the ongoing preparation for a special forum in Kampala from 21-24 February in regard to upgrading the existing memoranda of understanding on defence matters into a legally-binding Protocol; initiating discussions on the establishment of the East African Monetary Union, which is the 3rd pillar of the integration process; etc are all indicative of the right direction that the EAC integration process and development is pursuing.
Background Information
The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its membership consists of a total of 52, of whom 45 are elected members (9 from each Partner State) and seven ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is effected by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to becomes an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislation in the Partner States.
Article 55 (1) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community stipulates that “The meetings of the Assembly shall be held at such times and places as the Assembly may appoint”.
For more information and interview requests, please contact: Owora Richard Othieno, Ag. Head of the Department: +255-784-835021;
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Department of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
EAC Secretariat
Arusha,Tanzania
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