Posted in Press Release
East African Legislative Assembly, Kampala, Uganda: February 9th 2018:
The House yesterday granted one of its Commissioners, Hon Mukasa Mbidde and other interested Members special leave to appear as interested parties in a reference (No 2 of 2018) on the matter of election of EALA Speaker filed at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) by the Republic of Burundi. Consequently, the House further granted Hon Mbidde leave to use of its records for the purposes of the suit.
The Resolution moved by Hon Mbidde himself, follows the recent application at the East African Court of Justice by the Republic of Burundi in which the applicant, the Attorney General, sues the Secretary General of the EAC on the election of the Speaker. The Member is seeking to be enjoined as an interested party in the case.
The Member told the House the matters raised in the reference touched on the sanctity of the Assembly within its jurisdiction and therefore should be well represented in the Court. He remarked that absence of the same may lead to misrepresentation of the facts of the suit or the Assembly in the matter. In the regard, the mover of the Motion had sought the House to grant access to a number of documents intended for use in line with Article 23 of the Rules of Procedure which stipulates how the records and journals of the House are kept.
According to Rule 42 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga K. Martin granted a minimum guided debate to avoid sub judice.Prior to debate, the Council of Ministers interjected requesting for the question to be put for a vote without debate, a move that was outvoted.
Hon Abdikadir Aden said it was necessary in line with the principle of natural justice for the Assembly to have legal representation.
“I commend Hon Mbidde for the gesture. Even though we have the Counsel to the Community in the House (as an ex-officio Member) let us also have legal representation in the reference”, he said.
Hon Denis Namara said there was need for instituting a safety net and therefore, vital for Hon Mbidde to be enjoined and to utilize the records of the House.
Hon Susan Nakawuki said the matter involved the entire Assembly who had been dragged to Court. “It is important that we defend ourselves as a team and defend our position, sovereignty and sanctity”, she said.
Hon Fancy Nkuhi reminded the August House that the Members of the House need to come together and to resolve any issues if at all while Hon Rose Akol Okullu termed the need to seek legal representation as vital. Hon Paul Musamali also supported the motion saying the issue touched on the very existence of the Assembly. Hon Kennedy Kalonzo Musyoka and Hon Gideon Gatpan further supported the motion calling for self-representation by the Assembly. Hon Gabriel Alaak Garang said the Attorney General in filing the suit was testing the resolve of the Assembly.
Hon Victor Burikukiye remarked that it was a democratic right for the Republic of Burundi to head to Court. “I believe the law allows any aggrieved party to bring a matter to Court. Let us not take the case as an attack to the August House but an avenue to protect the Treaty governing the Community”, he said, reiterating that Burundi needs clarification on the matter and that the EACJ would be able to adequately handle the matter.
In her contribution, Hon Mary Mugyenyi cited tranquility of the Community as important and reiterated the Assembly was keen to see the same by all means. “If it means we support the Motion, then let us do so”, she remarked.
- 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.
Posted in Press Release
East African Legislative Assembly, Kampala, Uganda: February 8th 2018:
Two key Bills critical to the Monetary Union were yesterday tabled for the First Reading in Kampala, Uganda.
The EAC Monetary Institute Bill 2017 and the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill 2017 tabled by the Chair of the Council of Ministers, Hon Julius Wandera Maganda, sailed through the First Reading and were committed to the respective EALA Committees.
The object of the EAC Monetary Institute Bill, 2017, is to provide for the establishment of the East African Monetary Institute as an institution of the Community responsible for preparatory work for the EAC Monetary Union. In accordance with Article 23 of the Protocol on the EAC Monetary Union, the Bill is expected to provide for the functions, governance and funding for the Institute as well as other related matters.
Closely related to the EAMI Bill is the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017, which also seeks to establish the Statistics Bureau as an Institution of the Community under Article 9 of the Treaty and Article 21 of the Protocol on Establishment of the EAC Monetary Union. The Bill provides for the functions, powers, governance and its funding with a view to establishing an institution responsible for statistics in a bid to support the East African Monetary Union.
The EALA Committee on Communications, Trade and Investment is to hold public hearings on the EAC Statistics Bureau while the EAC Monetary Institute Bill will be handled by the General Purpose Committee.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin said though the bills were tabled by the Council of Ministers, they were coming to the House close two years late. He therefore urged the Assembly to give both Bills the due attention deserved.
Meanwhile, Hon Amb Dr Augustine Mahiga, Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation in the United Republic of Tanzania was sworn in as an ex-officio Member of EALA.
Hon Amb Dr Mahiga was led in to the House by Hon Josephine Lemoyaan, Hon Abdulla Makame and Hon Happiness Elias Lugiko.
In his maiden speech immediately thereafter, the Minister registered appreciation to EALA and congratulated the Speaker and Members for their election. He further congratulated the Members of the Republic of South Sudan for joining the Assembly and noted the region looked forward to ensuring it (South Sudan) maximizes the benefits of integration.
The Minister remarked that EALA had made major contribution and remained a significant player in the process of integration. “You are the custodian of the Treaty and the one that oversights Government – speaking without fear or favour on where we need to improve”, Amb Dr Mahiga said.
“You are the indispensable link to the people of East Africa, he added saying EALA was essential in bringing people behind the integration process”, the Minister added.
- 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.