Kampala to host EALA siting next week
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) resumes business next week in Kampala, Uganda. The Plenary which takes place from Monday, 16th August 2015 to Friday, 28th August 2015 is the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Third Assembly.
President Yoweri Museveni is expected to address a Special Sitting of the Assembly on Friday, 21st August 2015 at the Parliament of Uganda.
The Assembly is to be presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega. Top on the agenda during the two week period are two key Bills which are expected to sail through the 2nd and 3rd Readings respectively. These are the EAC Electronic Transaction Bill, 2014 and the EAC Creative and Cultural Industries Bill, 2015.
The Electronic Transaction Bill, 2014 seeks to meet the need of exploiting electronic transactions in the modern day business transactions. The Bill further wants to promote technology neutrality in applying legislation to electronic communications and transactions and to develop a safe, secure and effective environment for the consumer, business and the Governments of the Partner States to conduct and use electronic transactions. EALA has already undertaken a series of public hearings to source for views from stakeholders on this particular Bill.
On its part, The EAC Creative and Cultural Industries Bill 2015, sailed through the First Reading in January this year. The objective of the Bill is to promote the creative and cultural industries at the EAC.
The Bill seeks to establish the Creative and Cultural Industries Council that shall provide an environment conducive to the enhancement and stimulation of creativity and innovative endeavours among the citizens of the Community. Once formed, the Council shall provide high quality training for skills and creativity development and formulate policies and strategies that shall stimulate creativity and innovations among the youth to ensure long term supply of talents.
Creative and Cultural Industries are considered one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy and contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product of many developed and developing countries.
The House shall also receive a number of reports. They include that of the Committee on General Purpose on the legal framework and implementation of policies in the EAC Partner States as well as another report on Policy Dialogue and Gender to be presented by the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources.
In addition, the Assembly shall debate the Report of the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investments on Investment Strategies in the EAC region.
This is the first meeting of EALA in the new Financial Year which commenced in July 2015. Two weeks ago, EALA held its Annual Planning Meeting in Kampala, Uganda during which it reviewed its plans and activities for the new Financial Year.
EALA holds rotational sittings in the Partner States in line with Article 55 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC. At its last sitting in Arusha in May-June this year, the Assembly debated and approved the EAC Budget for the Financial Year 2015/2016.
At the sitting, legislators also debated on the State of EAC Address and commended H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the Chair of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, for the insightful delivery of the State of EAC Address in Bujumbura, in March this year.