EALA swears in new Counsel to the Community as ex-Officio Member
EALA has this afternoon sworn in Hon. Dr Anthony Luyirika Kafumbe, the new Counsel to the East African Community (CTC) as an Ex-Officio Member of EALA.
The Oath of Allegiance to the House was administered by the Clerk of EALA, before the EALA Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega.
Hon. Dr Kafumbe took the oath in accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. The Rules of Procedure say in part 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”.
The Counsel to the Community was ushered into the House by Hon. Emmanuel Nengo and Hon. Dora Byamukama.
Hon. Dr Kafumbe was appointed Counsel to the Community by the Council of Ministers at its 32nd Meeting in Arusha in August 2015. This followed the retirement from service of the Community by long-serving CTC, Hon. Wilbert Kaahwa last year.
His duties shall include inter-alia offering legal advice to the EAC, attending and advising Council of Ministers and representing the Community at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).
Prior to his appointment, Hon. Dr Kafumbe was the Principal Legal Officer of the Community having joined the Service of the Community in July 2008. Hon. Dr Kafumbe holds a Ph.D from the University of Glasgow, Scotland (2006).
He further holds LLM from University of Pretoria, South Africa (2000) and a Masters of Business Administration earned from ESAMI, Arusha, Tanzania (2003). Prior to joining the Community, Hon. Dr Kafumbe lectured at the Makerere University. He has also served as a Senior State Attorney, Ministry of Justice in the Republic of Uganda.