East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 23rdOctober, 2018: The 29th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence is currently underway in Arusha, Tanzania. The Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence has been convened pursuant to Article 10 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs and in accordance with the EAC Calendar of Activities for the period July- December 2018.
The Meeting is considering several items pertinent to strengthening and widening the regional integration agenda in the Defence sector that include, among others, planning for the 11th EAC Armed Forces Field Training Exercise USHIRIKIANO IMARA 2018; issues to do with the EAC Command and Staff Colleges/Higher Military Training Institutions/Military Academies; Health Services of the EAC Partner States’ Armed Forces; Military Industrial Facilities availed for Shared Utilization; and EAC Counter Terrorism strategy.
The meeting is also considering the EAC Armed Forces’ Standing Operating Procedures; and the Draft Defence Sector Calendar of Activities for the Period January to June 2019.
The 29th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence is being conducted through the Session of the Defence Experts Working Group on Operations and Training from 22nd to 23rd October; Session of the Sectoral Committee on Cooperation in Defence on 24th October 2018; Session of the Consultative Committee on Cooperation in Defence on 25th October 2018; and session of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence on 26th October 2018.
The ongoing session is being attended by the Partner States’ Defence Experts Working Group on Operations and Training.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, October 22, 2018: The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has resumed its Sitting in Arusha, Tanzania. The Second Meeting of the Second Session which commenced this morning (October 22, 2018) with meetings of respective Committees, continues until November 10, 2018.
Key items expected at the Sitting include the debate on the East African Community Statistics Bill, 2017 and that on the Report of the Accounts Committee on the EAC Audited Accounts for the Financial Year ended 30th June, 2017, both of which were deferred when the Assembly met two weeks ago in Arusha.
The EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017, 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 the institution responsible for statistics in a bid to support the East African Monetary Union. The Bill is in line with Article 21 (c) of the Protocol on the Establishment of the EAC Monetary Union which provides for the Summit, on the recommendation of the EAC Council of Ministers to establish an institution responsible for statistics as one of the institutions to back the EAC Monetary Union. The debate on the Bill was deferred on October 3rd, 2018, to allow for further consultation. The Motion to postpone the debate on the crucial Bill was moved by Minister for EAC, Burundi, Hon Isabelle Ndahayo on behalf of the Council of Ministers and supported by legislators.
The Hon Minister (then) informed the House that, the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017, which was a Council Bill needed time for more consultation before debate can ensue.
The House likewise received the report on the EAC Audited Accounts for the Financial Year ending 30th June, 2017. Debate is therefore expected to ensue. Also, for consideration is the EAC Annual Report 2015/2016.
This week, rigorous Committee work shall take place with all the Standing Committees of the House meeting to review reports, analyze pending issues as they prepare for the actual plenary sitting next week. The Assembly has 6 Standing Committees. These are:
The Committee on Accounts
The Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges
The Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment
The Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources
The Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution
The Committee on General Purpose.
The Assembly which holds six Plenary Sessions in every Financial Year, has a principle of rotation.
NOTE TO EDITORS ABOUT EALA
The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight 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 put in effect 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 become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
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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
East African Legislative Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland: 16th October, 2018:The 139th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly commenced in Geneva, Switzerland this week with over 1000 MPs and Parliamentary staff meeting to deliberate on issues under the umbrella theme of science, technology and innovation. EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin, addressed the congregation this morning (October 16th, 2018) urging legislators to harness the untapped value of technological innovations to build initiatives that abhor violence, enhance peace-building tools and support human security around the globe for positive societal impact.
Rt Hon Ngoga urged legislators to embrace technological innovation to maintain communication with their constituencies and to leverage liaison roles with governments and other stakeholders. While noting the detrimental effects of technology and innovation, the EALA Speaker remarked that it was similarly vital and a responsibility of Parliaments to regulate the industry.
“Today, technological revolution has enhanced communications and presents a phenomenal impact on the economy, society and environment since the days of mechanized production. It is equally recognized that technological revolution presents societal and economical challenges; resulting in loss of jobs occasioned by automation. Technological change further exacerbates inequalities due to the disproportion in certain segments of the populations, a characteristic that poses ramifications for peace and security – the very core of our deliberations here today”, Rt Hon Ngoga said.
“We are challenged to orient our legislative strategy towards tapping positive change aided by technological innovations”, he added.
The Speaker termed the costs of lack of peace and insecurity as critical.
“The Global Peace Index, 2018, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace “reveals a world where tensions, conflicts and crises remain largely unresolved resulting in a gradual, sustained fall in peacefulness”.In 2017, “the economic impact of violence on the global economy was pegged at US $14.76 Trillion in purchasing power parity terms; a figure equivalent to 12.4% of the world’s economic activity (Gross World Product) or USD 1,988 for every person’’, Rt Hon Ngoga remarked.
Rt Hon Ngoga implored legislators to pay attention to the availability, efficacy and affordability of ICTs and to shun the risk of elitism associated with technological innovations. Such is crucial to overcome perception and reduction of disengagement and further marginalization of constituents from the political processes guaranteed.
The Speaker called for a legislative framework enabling youth to comprehend and embrace technology without been prone to manipulation motives that hampers peace and security initiatives.
The Assembly is covering multiple subjects including fake news, sexism and harassment in Parliaments, human rights, disarmament, counter-terrorism, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and migration.
Gender equality in science and technology is one of the themes under discussion at the IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians, a topical subject following the tripartite award of the 2018 Nobel Prize for Physics to Donna Strickland, only the third woman to have ever won the prize. MPs on the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security are also discussing parliamentary action on disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation strategies for weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons and future weapon technologies.
Accompanying the Speaker are EALA Members, Hon Wanjiku Muhia, Hon Christopher Nduwayo, Hon Fancy Nkuhi Haji and senior Parliamentary staff.
The 139th IPU edition has also attracted over 50 Speakers of Parliament and 40 Deputy Speakers. Of the MPs in attendance, 20 per cent are young MPs under 45 years of age and 33 per cent are women.
Other EAC Speakers and Parliamentarians are also in attendance. Republic of Kenya is represented by the Speaker of the Senate, Rt Hon Kenneth Lusaka, while Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda leads her delegation. Rt Hon Anthony Lino Makana, Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly of the Republic of South Sudan is also in attendance. Rt Hon Nyabenda Pascal, Speaker of the Burundi National Assembly leads his delegation while Rwanda is represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Gakuba Jean d’Arc.
The impact of technology on information, and the responsibility of Parliaments to regulate fake news, is also a subject of a panel discussion between MPs, journalists, and academics.
In addition, the Assembly is hosting a knowledge fair including exhibits by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
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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 is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight 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 put in effect 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 become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 15th October, 2018: The 13th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Energy is underway in Arusha, Tanzania. The objective of the Sectoral Council meeting is to review progress made in the Energy sector and consider other issues of regional importance in the areas of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation and Efficiency, Fossil Fuels and Power.
The five day meeting started with the Session of Senior Officials which will run from Monday 15th to Wednesday 17th October, followed by the Session of Permanent/Principal Secretaries responsible for Energy that will take place from Thursday 18th October 2018. The meeting will be capped by the Ministerial Session on Friday 19th October 2018.
The Session of Senior Officials is being chaired by Mrs. Cecilia Nakiranda Menya, the Ag. Commissioner Electrical in Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Mr. John Muhizi from Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and EAC is the Rapporteur.
Addressing the opening session, the Director of Productive Sectors Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, on behalf of the Deputy Secretary General Productive and Social Sectors, welcomed the delegates to Arusha and said that the meeting could not be convened earlier as was planned in the EAC calendar of activities due tight and clashing schedules in Partner States.
He emphasized the need for EAC Partner States and the Secretariat to go an extra-mile moving forward to implement the Council directive of having two regular meetings of the Sectoral Council per year. This would allow to follow up on matters of the Sector that require urgent policy decision and guidance.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 15th October 2018: The African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Development Fund (ADF) have approve the Regional Integration Strategy with Projects worth USD2 Billion for EAC Region. The African Development Bank is among the top EAC Development Partners. The Bank’s support in the Region is oriented toward “Accelerating East Africa’s Transformation through Regional Integration”.
Since July 2017, the EAC Secretariat has been working with the Bank on a proposal to support the EAC priority projects under the Bank’s Regional Integration Strategy Paper (RISP) for Eastern Africa (EA-RISP 2018-22). The efforts to engage with the Bank are in line with the outcome of the Joint EAC Heads of State Retreat concluded on 28th February 2018 in Kampala, Uganda, at which the Secretariat was called upon to collaborate with development partners to “Mobilize resources required for implementation of new and ongoing priority infrastructure projects”.
A total of 20 projects worth $2 billion to be implemented by the EAC and EAC Partner States are included under the EA-RISP approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors on 10th October 2018 for the next five years.
Accordingly to a press release issued by the Bank on 12th October, 2018 the RISP is the Bank’s strategic and programming instrument to guide its support to regional operations in 13 countries, comprising the six EAC Partner States and their congruous neighbours in the greater Eastern Africa region such as Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan. EA-RISP is anchored on two mutually reinforcing pillars, namely ‘regional infrastructure for competitiveness and structural transformation’, and ‘strengthening the policy and institutional frameworks for market integration, growing investments and value chains development.
In line with this strategic thrust, the EAC priority projects included in the RISP cover regional transport connectivity, regional energy infrastructure, regional ICT connectivity, and management of transboundary water resources.
Under the second pillar, the Bank will support projects aimed at accelerating implementation of the EAC single market, trade development including tackling of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), and putting in place policy frameworks for industrialization and promotion of EAC as a single investment destination. On financial market integration, the Bank aims to scale up implementation of the EAC payment and settlement systems integration. A number of knowledge products have also been prioritized, including publication of the flagship Eastern Africa Industrial Competitiveness Report in collaboration with UNIDO.
The Bank has indicated that the indicative operational program updated at the Mid-Term Review in 2020. A range of instruments will be deployed to finance the selected projects, including the Bank concessional resources under the African development Fund (ADF) window, its non-concessional resources under the African Development Bank (ADB) window, trust funds and blending instruments, including through collaboration with other development partners such as the European Union, French Development Agency (AFD), and China’s Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF).
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 15th October, 2018: The Chiefs/Directors of Health Services of the EAC Partner States’ Armed Forces have converged at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, to discuss and share information among Partner States’ Armed Forces on health matters and to review the status of implementation of previous decisions on the same matter by the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence.
The three-day meeting is being chaired by Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Keith Ambrose Musinguzi, the Chief Medical Services of Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force, and Major (Dr.) P.T. Venuste Muratwa of Rwanda Defence Force, is the Rapporteur.
After realizing the serious risk posed by HIV/AIDS and other health threats to the EAC Partner States’ Armed Forces, the Sectoral Council on cooperation in Defence directed that the Armed Forces initiate co-operation in health/medical matters. In that regard, an operational forum for the Chiefs/Directors of Health Services was established to draw strategies and measures to mitigate health threats to the Armed Forces.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 12th October, 2018: The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat is intensifying preparedness efforts against outbreaks of infectious diseases in the region. “The world continues to be challenged by public health threats like the current Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo which are prone to crossing borders and threatening lives and livelihoods and the economy as a whole”, said Frederik Copper of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Headquarters in Geneva at an EAC stakeholder meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. It was therefore important to exercise, practice and plan to build capacity for better outbreak preparedness and response. The stakeholder meeting took place at the International Center for Insect Ecology and Physiology (icipe) on 11-12 October 2018. It kicked off the preparation for a cross-border field simulation exercise in Namanga in June 2019. “The EAC Secretariat will convene the exercise under the directive of the Sectoral Council of Ministers of Ministers of Health”, says Andrew Charles, EAC Health Department.
The simulation will take place around the One Stop Border Post between Kenya and Tanzania and involve the EAC Partner States of Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda. It will be facilitated by WHO as the lead agency and stage a One Health scenario that involves different sectors of society. The approach includes all stakeholders which are affected by an outbreak or can contribute to preparedness, response and mitigation. It reflects the fact that most outbreaks are of a zoonotic nature meaning that they can be transmitted between humans and animals.
The exercise is being planned at a time where the region is under threat of the current Ebola virus disease outbreak close to the border with Uganda. By 9 October 2018 the number of cases was at 188 and 119 people had died of the disease.
Stakeholders from various sectors in Kenya and Tanzania as well as from regional and international organisations participated in the meeting including agriculture and livestock, trade, tourism, environment, the border post and airports, immigration, business, military and police forces. Furthermore, there were representatives from the Namanga community, farmers, traders and religious leaders.
The EAC Secretariat urged participants to prepare for the field simulation exercise through sensitization on existing contingency plans and training of staff on the ground and to contribute to mobilising the necessary resources for pandemic preparedness.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO),Kigali, Rwanda, October 12th, 2018: The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) held Regional Stakeholder Workshop on EAC Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Policy on 24th September 2018 at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies in Nairobi, Kenya.
The EAC Partner States have explicitly recognised the importance of Science Technology and Innovation (STI) for socio-economic development in the relevant provisions of Treaty establishing the Community. Science, technology and innovation is important for the enhancement of the socio-economic status of individuals and communities and is key to the establishment of the competitiveness of regional economies. It will be altogether impossible, to create wealth and improve the living standards of the people of this region without developing and applying science and technology and strengthening systems to harness innovation at the national level.
However, the implementation of national STI policies is at varying stages in the EAC Partner States. In some of the EAC partner states, the national STI policies are under a review process. Some of the key challenges hampering the development and implementation of effective STI policies in EAC Partner States are inadequate funds for the implementation of national STI policies, lack of up-to-date, reliable data and indicators on the current status of S&T, lack of indicators and support mechanisms for innovation. The National Institutions have focused on training, education, research and development of national STI policies, with less focus on innovation in the national STI policies. This has resulted in weak and non-direct linkages for science, technology and innovation to support societal needs and sustained economic growth.
The purpose of the meeting was to review and validate the draft policy for the East African Regional science, technology and innovation for sustainable regional development and socio-economic transformation.
The meeting output a validated draft EAC Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation and enriched with lessons and experience from STI Stakeholders, Partner States and partners; and effective support mechanisms identified and validated to enhance regional and national innovation systems for a sustained conducive environment in fostering S&T-led innovations.
The workshop gathered about 65 stakeholders’ representative from EAC Partner States including National Commission/Council for Science and Technology; Ministries responsible for Science, Technology and Innovation; National Departments responsible for Intellectual Property in EAC Partner States; Kenya Association of Professional Engineers; Universities/Academia; National Research Institutions; Private Business and Civil Society sector and Development Partners (UNESCO and UNECA).
The meeting was opened by Dr. Moses Rugutt, the Director General of National Council of Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) Kenya, who appreciated EASTECO efforts to have the IP Policy developed for the region. He further informed the meeting that this policy will form the basis for the development of the individual National IP Policy. The opening remarks were given by Mrs Ngabirano Gertrude, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Alice Ochanda representative from UNESCO Nairobi, Kenya and Dr. Kasirim Nwuke representative from UNECA, Ethiopia.
The EAC IP Policy development process was participatory and included national level consultations in all EAC Partner States.
After the consultative process, the reviewed draft Regional Policies will be submitted to the EASTECO Governing Board for adoption before consideration and approval by the EAC Council of Ministers.
For more information please contact: The Executive Secretary, The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), 2nd Floor Telecom House, Kacyiru, KIGALI – RWANDA. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About EASTECO
The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) was established as an institution of the EAC, with an overall objective of “promoting and coordinating the development, management and application of Science and Technology in Partner States” composed with the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda.
It is a semi-autonomous institution of the EAC established by the 5th Extra-ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State held on 18th June 2007,in accordance with Chapter 16, Article 103 (a) of the Treaty on the Establishment of the East African Community, where the Partner States undertook to promote cooperation in the development of Science & Technology within the Community.
EASTECO Headquarters are in Kigali, Rwanda, 2nd Floor Telecom House, Kacyiru.
TRIPARTITE TRANSPORT AND TRANSIT FACILITATION PROGRAMME
Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme (TTTFP) validation workshop for cross border road transport agreements, model laws and regulations in Eastern and Southern Africa to be convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 05 - 09 November 2018. The TTTFP goal is to assist COMESA, EAC and SADC (Tripartite) member states to harmonize road transport laws, policies, regulations, standards and systems. The TTTFP is funded by the EU under the 11th EDF. TTTFP is coordinated by a Programme Management Unit hosted by SADC Secretariat on behalf of the Tripartite.
Target Participants
The target participants are Experts from the 21 beneficiary member states representing Ministries or Government Agencies with responsibilities and mandates in the following;
Attorney General Chambers or entity responsible for domestication of international agreements
Vehicle Load Management
Cross Border Road Transport Regulation
Vehicle and Driver Registration and Licensing
Vehicle Fitness Testing
Dangerous Goods –Emergency First Responders and Law Enforcement
In addition, fifteen (15) regional subsidiarity organizations with a mandate that covers cross border road transport and trade facilitation have also been invited to participate.
International Cooperating Partners funding and or implementing complementary programs have also been invited.
Documents
The documents to be validated include the following:
Draft Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreement (MCBRTA)
Draft Model Laws & Regulations
Vehicle Load Management
Cross Border Road Transport
Road Traffic (including Driver Quality and Vehicle Quality)
Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Road Traffic and Transport Transgressions
The two agreements are to be signed by Member States after validation and adoption and the model laws will assist Member States to domesticate the agreements. The TTTFP is also conducting training workshop is each beneficiary member state to explain the contents of the agreements and model laws in order to facilitate signing of the agreements.
Workshop Arrangements
The workshop will be convened as follows;
Dates: 05th - 09th November 2018
Venue: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Hotel: To be confirmed and advised
Invitations: Letters have been sent to respective institutions.
The workshop is managed and facilitated by COMESA, EAC and SADC Secretariats and the TTTFP Programme Management Unit.
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: 6thOctober, 2018: EALA is adding its voice to the debate on greening the environment. The regional Assembly now wants Partner States to make tree seedlings available to various communities to embark on massive tree planting campaigns and to conserve forests as it promotes policies that make the Community green. Consequently, the Assembly is callingfor the retrieval of the EAC Forests Management and Protection Bill 2015 for its re-consideration, which it hopes to amend and have (the Bill) assented to by the EAC Heads of State within the shortest time possible.
Hon Mathias Kasamba, mover of the Resolution urging Council of Ministers to conserve forests, raised concerns that forest areas within the EAC were under threat of deforestation and forest degradation. The Member raised concern of the imminent disappearance of forest.
“There is concern that if these practices (deforestation) continue, the Community will lose approximately 12 million hectares of forest by 2030”, Hon Kasamba told an attentive House.
The Assembly was informed that in order for the Community to protect the many benefits from forests and to ensure livelihoods for the people that live in and around forests, the Community needs to adopt programmes on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) “plus” conservation and the sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks and adopt programmes aimed at halting or preventing the destruction of forests.
The resolution which was seconded by Hon Dr Woda Jeremiah Odok, calls for the promotion and use of alternative technologies that minimize tree cutting especially for firewood and home consumption purposes. At the same time, the Assembly recognises that the EAC Climate Change Policy provides for several strategies which include promotion of sustainable management of forests and wetlands in the region, promoting reforestation, afforestation and improvement of agricultural productivity.
Hon Kasamba called for more action in conservation matters saying EAC had already lost 6 Million hectares of forest cover.
According to Hon Kasamba, in Uganda, a government report has revealed that the country’s forest cover has dropped to 9%, representing a 3%drop in just two years since 2015. United Republic of Tanzaniawith land area 945,687sq km is home to one of the largest trees’ cover in the world, but it is similarly at risk. A forest inventory by the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) in 2015, found that forests and wooded areas cover over 48 million hectares of land. On its part, Hon Kasamba saidKenya had lost a large portion of its forest cover over the years; it gained a substantive portion in the 10 years to 2015. The country had 4,413,000 hectares of forest land that year as compared to 4,047,000 hectares in 2005 in a report attributed to the Food and Agricultural Organization. The legislator maintained that Rwanda is one of the only countries in the world that has a positive rate of afforestation. Every year, more trees are planted and protected in Rwanda than cut down. This is no easy feat considering Rwanda’s population density and the economic pressure on the small land size.
By the end of 1994, forests had been eliminated from 78 % of the country and were decreasing at rate of 7% per year, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the United Nations. The Government knew that without trees, the country could never fully rebuild itself, so it reversed this trend, planting millions each year. From 2015 to 2016, the Rwandan government planted 32 million seedlings, which is equivalent to the reforestation of 15,000 hectares. In 2017, Rwanda reached its target of 30% forest cover three years earlier than planned”, Hon Kasamba told the House.
With an estimated 33% forest cover in the country, South Sudan’s forests harbor globally significant biodiversity, provide a globally significant greenhouse gas sink, and provide numerous other goods and services to South Sudan’s growing population.However, South Sudan’s forests and their associated ecosystem goods and services are also under significant threat due to unsustainable activities such as illegal logging, unplanned and inefficient agricultural practices, and an unregulated charcoal industry, serving ever increasing demand in urban centers. In Burundi, the House was informed that deforestation is a major environmental concern in the country which is also the beginning of the problem of climate change.About 172000ha (6.7%) of the country constitute forests among which 33.3% (40,000ha) are classified as primary forests. According to FAO (2017) between 1990 and 2010 Burundi lost an average of 5850 hectares (2.02% of trees) per year. In total Burundi lost 117000 hectares (40.05%) of their forest over the course of twenty years, and the numbers are still drastically increasing.
Hon Kasamba remarked that it was necessary for the Bill to be brought back to the House if assent is withheld.
During debate, Hon Mohammed Mnyaa attributed unemployment as one of the many reasons fordeforestation. “Unemployed people continue to cut trees to make charcoal and to sell logs. I have been tasked before to provide employment by youth at a time I was advocating for them to halt deforestation”, he said. Hon Woda Odok said reforestation is key to mitigate climate change saying it helped also to reduce emissions of carbon. Hon Dr Odok congratulated Republic of Rwanda for its attempts to ensure forest preservation.
Hon Dr Oburu Oginga remarked that the region’s water towers were drying up due to the nature human conflict arising from many citizens grabbing land in forests and cutting trees. “This is a big problem given that some are acquiring title deeds and it thus becomes a challenge to recover when it becomes occupied as it tends to take a political angle,” the legislator said. Hon Dr Oginga said that Mau forest in Kenya was a source of many rivers including the Mau river- which he maintained, was on the verge of drying up. He further called for modalities of how the enacted legislation can become Acts should Partner States fail to assent to bill without reasons given.
Hon Susan Nakawuki urged Council of Ministers to ensure the Bill on forestry receives the due attention given the importance of the environment. She called for awareness creation on the impact of environmental degradation.The legislator further called on Members of the Community to consider the option of planting trees in addition to flowers. Hon Mary Mugyenyi said the Bill was too important and requested the mover of the resolution to retrieve the Bill that was not assented to and re-look at the issues.
Hon Francoise Umuwukiza called for preservation and purification of the environment for posterity. Forests are not only good in conserving water – but an attractive tourist and natural attraction
Others who supported the Motion were Hon Dr Ann Itto, Hon Gabriel Alaak,Hon George Odongo, Hon Jean Claude Barimuyabo, Hon Gideon Thoar, and Hon Kim Gai.
East Africa’s coastline is one of the most biologically diverse areas, offering a rich mosaic of coral reefs, mangroves, lowland forests and savanna woodlands and the Community is well endowed with forest resources which contribute significantly to carbon sequestration and support development of the Community.
In 2015, the Assembly passed the EAC Forests Management and Protection Bill, 2015 whose objective is to provide for the preservation, protection and sustainable use of forests.
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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 is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight 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 put in effect 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 become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
COMESA-EAC-SADC