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Uganda will hold EALA’s plenary session from October 20th to November 12th, 2024, as part of the Assembly's tradition of rotating sittings across EAC member states
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KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni is set to officially open the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) plenary session in Uganda tomorrow at State House. This was revealed by the Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, during a press briefing at Uganda’s Parliament today.
Ntakirutimana shared that the President’s address will be a key highlight of EALA’s three-week sitting in Uganda, which will also involve the debate of critical Bills and reports. "The President will address us tomorrow, and we will have to consider his speech. During our stay, we will debate three Bills: the Finance Investments Bill, the Statistics Bill, and the Standardisation, Accreditation, and Conformity Assessment Bill," he said.
Ntakirutimana
The Statistics Bill, previously tabled in Uganda in 2018, will be revisited during this session, as it was not assented to at the time. "This Statistics Bill had its first reading here in 2018, but it wasn’t passed, so it has to come back," Ntakirutimana explained.
The Speaker also reflected on how the East African Community (EAC) has grown since EALA’s last rotational sitting in Uganda in January 2018. At that time, the EAC had six member states. With the recent addition of Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the number has grown to eight.
“Somalia is yet to send representatives to the Assembly, but they are in the process of electing members, and they could even join us while we are here in Uganda,” Ntakirutimana added. The Assembly is currently composed of 63 members, with nine representatives from each partner state, along with ex officio members, including seven EAC ministers, bringing the total to 72 members.
EALA will, among other things, debate eight reports from various committees, such as the management of elections in the EAC and projects overseen by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission
EALA will be tabling several Private Members’ Bills during this sitting, with Uganda’s own Blacks Siranda set to present the East African Youth Bill, while Jacqueline Amongin will table two Bills on Climate Change and Anti-Female Genital Mutilation. Other Bills scheduled for discussion include the East Africa Community Investment Bank Bill and the Pharmaceutical Bill.
In addition to legislative matters, EALA will also debate eight reports from various committees, such as the management of elections in the EAC and projects overseen by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission. Ugandans will also have an opportunity to submit petitions to the Assembly during this period.
The Statistics Bill, previously tabled in Uganda in 2018, will be revisited during this session, as it was not assented to at the time
EALA’s plenary sessions in Uganda will be held from October 20th to November 12th, 2024, as part of the Assembly's tradition of rotating sittings across EAC member states. This practice aims to strengthen regional cooperation and promote economic integration within the East African Community.
Torch Media Africa
