EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY ______EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (EALA) Official Report of the Proceedings of the East African Legislative Assembly 4TH SITTING - FOURTH ASSEMBLY: SECOND MEETING – FIRST SESSION Tuesday, 23 January 2018 The East African Legislative Assembly met at 9.00 .a.m. in the Parliament of , Kampala, Uganda.

(The Speaker, Mr. Martin .K. Ngoga, in the Chair.)

The Assembly was called to order.

(The Uganda National Anthem was played)

(The Anthem was played)

PRAYER

“WHEREAS Clause 1 of Article 55 of the PROCEDURAL MOTION Treaty provides that the meeting of the Assembly shall be held at such times and Ms Muhia Wanjiku (): Motion that places as the Assembly may appoint; this House, pursuant to the provisions of Article 55(1) of the Treaty and Rule 10 of the AND WHEREAS Rule 2 of the Rules of Rules of Procedure do resolve to hold sittings Procedure provides that, the seat of the in Kampala in the Republic of Uganda. Assembly shall be at Arusha in the Republic of Tanzania; The Speaker: Thank you, hon. Wanjiku. Seconders? Hon. Mbidde, hon. Maryam, hon. AND WHEREAS sub-rule 5 of Rule 10 Musamali and all the members standing. provides that the meetings of the Assembly shall be held at such times and places as the Ms Wanjiku: Mr. Speaker, Assembly may appoint and shall meet at least Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates once in every year at Arusha in the United Assembly on the occasion of the State of the Republic of Tanzania and at a time to be EAC Address. determined by the Assembly; I now would like to make the following NOW THEREFORE, this Assembly do proclamation to welcome his presence in the resolve as follows: Assembly. That pursuant to the provisions of sub-rule 5 “WHEREAS Clause 1 of Article 54 of the of rule 10 cited above, the Assembly shall Treaty provides that the Speaker of the hold sittings in the Chamber of Parliament of Assembly can invite any person to attend the Uganda from today, 23 January 2018 up to Assembly, notwithstanding that he or she is Thursday, 8 February 2018.” not a member of the Assembly if in his or her opinion, the business of the Assembly renders Mr Speaker, I beg to move. his or her presence desirable; The Speaker: Thank you. Honourable AND WHEREAS in the opinion of the Members, I now propose the motion that this Speaker, the attendance and presence in the House, pursuant to the provisions of Article Assembly of the President of the Republic of 55(1) of the Treaty and Rule 10 of the Rules Uganda is desirable in accordance with the of Procedure do resolve to hold sittings in business now before the Assembly; Kampala in the Republic of Uganda. Debate is open. NOW THEREFORE it is with great pleasure and honour, on your behalf honourable There being no Member willing to debate the members, to welcome His Excellency the motion, I now proceed to propose the President of the Republic of Uganda in this question that this House, pursuant to the Assembly.” provisions of Rule 55(1) of the Treaty and Rule 10 of the Rules of Procedure do resolve ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE to hold sittings in Kampala in the Republic of PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF Uganda. I put the question. UGANDAWELCOME REMARKS BY THE RT HON. SPEAKER OF EALA (Question put and agreed to.) The Speaker: Your Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic PROCLAMATION of Uganda, Rt. hon. Rebecca Kadaga, The Speaker: Honourable Members, I now Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, wish to make the following proclamation. honourable Chairperson and members of the EAC Council of Ministers, Speakers Amidst us today is His Excellency Yoweri emeritus: Rt. hon. Abdirahin Abdi, Rt. hon. Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic , Rt. hon. Daniel Kidega, of Uganda and Rt. hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the Your Lordship Justice Dr Emmanuel Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda. Ugirashebuja, President of the East African Court of Justice, honourable members of the I have, in accordance with the provisions of East African Legislative Assembly and the Article 4 of the Treaty, invited His Parliament of Uganda, members emeritus of Excellency the President, to address this EALA present, members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials in

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates attendance, representatives of the private seized of the fact that the Third EALA sector and civil society, distinguished guests, collaborated very closely and in a number of ladies and gentlemen. areas with the Parliament of Uganda in general and the Rt. hon. Speaker Kadaga I wish you all a progressive and fruitful year specifically. 2018. I thank the Speaker, Rt. hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the Parliament of Uganda and the I am aware of the fact that the Rt. hon. entire Government of Uganda for accepting Speaker Kadaga inspired and made to host EALA at the commencement of its tremendous contribution to the EAC Bureau Second Meeting of the First Session of the of Speakers which is the political bureau of Fourth Assembly. Speakers that sit regularly to deliberate on the progress of the process of integration. Your Excellency, I thank the Rt. hon. Speaker for the great lengths that she and the In addition, members of staff from across Parliament of Uganda went through to ensure various departments of both Parliament of that our stay is made comfortable right from Uganda and EALA continue to learn and to the period we arrived in Kampala last week. benefit from each other’s experiences. Our presence here today is a further sign of true Rt. hon. Speaker, EALA is cognisant of the friendship and commitment that both fact that your House is currently undertaking institutions enjoy as they strengthen ties and various businesses and in addition, promote the integration process. Parliament of Uganda is hosting the annual Parliament week yet despite your very busy Article 49 of the Treaty for the establishment schedule, you found both space and time to of the East African Community envisages the accommodate us. liaison with the National Assemblies of the Partner States on matters related to the Yesterday, Rt. hon. Kadaga made time to Community. It is pleasing to note that under open our induction programme officially your leadership, the parliamentary where she reassured us of her full Committee on EAC Affairs led by hon. Tony collaboration. We thank you, Rt. hon. Ayoo has continued to remain vibrant. In Speaker and the Parliament of Uganda for fact, this committee and others continuously your generosity. (Applause) interface with EALA through visits by delegations to the headquarters and wherever The members and I are most grateful for your possible in various capitals where we hold magnanimity and true sign of friendship. The our sittings. The experiences shared and relation between the Parliament of Uganda views exchanged have indeed been worth the and EALA continue to be warm and very cordial. Today, both assemblies keep avenues while. open for regular consultations at the That said, I take my initial steps in the new speakership level and among members of role of speakership and I wish to thank you, Parliament. in a special way, for the support you have already and will continue to render me as we We, as the Fourth Assembly, will do all that consult on parliamentary matters and on it takes to strengthen the relations and to take other regional matters that are healthy and them a notch higher. mutual for our institution. As a former member of the Third Assembly My colleagues and I have taken note of your and a returnee to the Fourth Assembly, I am advice when you opened the induction

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates meeting yesterday that we need to do more to welcome our sixth delegation of South Sudan take the message of integration and its who are sitting in EALA for the first time. benefits to the people. We shall prioritise You are welcome. sensitisation and outreach programmes in our planning. On that note, Your Excellency, I would like to thank you and the other heads of state for I wish you well as you continue the deserved the commitment that has enabled the East leadership to your Parliament and the much- African Community to grow from three needed guidance to our Assembly. countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to five with the inclusion of Rwanda and Your Excellency, it is vital for the region to Burundi and now the sixth member, South continue to be steadfast in its desire to remain Sudan. Thank you so much for the work a strong, united, resilient, influential player in done. the continent and the globe. Today, the region is proud of the achievements of the Customs Your Excellency, yesterday I had an Union, Common Market, the Monetary opportunity to speak to the members during Union and other steps that we will continue the induction. I pointed out the areas of need to undertake. In all endeavours we are but I also told them that they now have the determined to uphold and take forward in this benefit of precedence from the other three Assembly, we shall continue to bank on the assemblies and that we expect them to work support of the Rt. hon. Kadaga and the very hard to fortify the issues of cooperation Parliament of Uganda. and to ensure that the integration is finally realised. On that remark, honourable members, please welcome Rt. hon. Kadaga for her remarks. I would also like to take this opportunity to (Applause) remind them about other issues of our community. We need to do a lot on the issues The Rt. hon. Speaker of the Parliament of of climate change. There has been Uganda (Ms Rebecca Kadaga): Thank you considerable drought in the region, there has very much, Mr Speaker. Your Excellency been crop failure in some instances, and President of the Republic of Uganda and the thousands of cattle have died, especially in Chair of the Summit of the East African the Horn of Africa. This has made the food Community, the Speaker, Rt. hon. Ngoga, we prices very high and left a number of our congratulate you and welcome you to populations struggling to survive. Kampala. I am delighted to see Speakers emeritus: Speaker Abdi. Mr President, when I do want to appeal to you, as you do your he was still with us, he was like a beacon. If other work, to keep in focus those issues of you wanted to give directions, you would say, the population. “Where that tall man is standing is where we are going”. We are happy to see him again. Your Excellency, we are happy that the Rt. hon. Zziwa, thank you very much for your EALA members are here this week because pioneering work. Rt. hon. Kidega, welcome this is the parliamentary week and I know that and thank you for the work. some of the members have not been in Parliament before. They now have an On behalf of Parliament, I welcome the Chief opportunity to attend our exhibition, discuss Justice of the East African Court of Justice with the staff and understand how and of course welcome the members. Your Parliaments work. Excellency, I am particularly happy to

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates

We are happy that the opportunity has come Your Excellency, we are very pleased to when they are here and on that note, your commence our sitting right here in Kampala Excellency, I would like to invite you to following our inauguration in December address us on the state of the East African 2017. The members of the Fourth Assembly Community. You are welcome, Your seated here before you collectively intend to Excellency. deliver to the expectations of the people of East Africa. The members elected me to lead The Speaker: Your Excellency, Yoweri the Assembly as we steer the integration Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic agenda forward. of Uganda, Rt. hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, I accepted the responsibility of the honourable Chairperson and members of the speakership with magnanimity and with a EAC Council of Ministers, Speakers promise to uphold the dignity of the House at emeritus, Rt. hon. Abdirahin Abdi, Rt. hon. all times. I promise to spare no efforts to Daniel Kidega, Rt. hon. Margaret Zziwa, provide the desired leadership and enhance Your Lordship Justice Dr Emmanuel teamwork with my colleagues. Ugirashebuja, President of the East African Curt of Justice, honourable members of the My colleagues and I believe in the resilience East African Legislative Assembly and the of a great region and together we can and Parliament of Uganda, members emeritus of must do more for the sustainable future of our EALA present, members of the diplomatic Community. corps, senior government officials in Your Excellency, the current East African attendance, representatives of the private Integration endeavours have come a long sector and civil society, distinguished guests, way. As our integration is deepened and ladies and gentlemen. widened in its scope, the issues for which the Your Excellency, it is with profound humility Assembly is called to address are also and I warmly welcome you to deliver the becoming complex. State of the East African Community address We recognise that all pillars of integration at the Second Meeting of the First Session of shall, in the longrun, unlock great the Fourth Assembly. opportunities for our citizens. During our At the outset, I wish you a progressive year tenure, the Assembly shall collaborate with full of good health and prosperity as you lead all stakeholders to solidify integration and the Republic of Uganda and the EAC to give East Africans the benefits that greater heights. integration offers. I duly express my gratitude to Your In line with the standard practice of Excellency for positively responding to this parliamentary autonomy and in accordance invitation. (Applause) Recalling that you with the directive of the Council of Ministers have previously honoured all nine taken some time back, the Assembly has invitations, this is the 10th time that Your done the preparatory work, picking up from Excellency is going to address us without where our predecessors ended to missing a single invitation. operationalise the autonomy of Finance and Administration of the Assembly. This will Since the inaugural speech in 2008, EALA improve on the efficiency with which we remains truly indebted to Your Excellency intend to execute our mandate. and thank you for your endless support.

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates

Your Excellency, the opportunity to interact Parliament of Uganda, you are all covered as with you gives us one more moment to reflect they represent you. When you go to these on the journey ahead of us and to take stock African ceremonies - majina yote wanasoma of where we have succeeded and where we – (Laughter). need to do more. We thank you for always availing that opportunity to us. I congratulate the new Speaker of EALA, Mr Ngoga - (Applause). The birth of Ngoga had Your Excellency, it is vital for the region to some issues in the labour room – (Laughter). continue to be steadfast in its desire to remain I was going for an external trip, and then our a strong united, resilient and influential layer Minister, Julius Maganda, rang me and said and we trust your commitment and resilience there was a crisis. I said, what is the crisis? to provide the leadership we need to secure The crisis was that you could not elect a that objective. Speaker. I said, how is that possible? Just voting? Kitu rahisi namna hiyo Your Excellency, allow me a moment to kinawasumbua? introduce some of the invitees but I have to start with my colleagues. By chapters, He told me that there was a problem of taking Republic of Uganda, if you can stand up for turns. Waswahili wanaita zamu. Si ndiyo? I recognition, Republic of Kenya, Republic of said, but what is the problem? Because the Rwanda, Republic of Burundi, republic of three original members - Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania - have already had their zamu. I Tanzania. Thank you very much. remember the people: Mwapachu, Kinana, I remember Margaret – I cannot forget We have been honoured with the presence of Margaret. She was so powerful, how can I our former members of the Third Assembly: forget? Then she was assisted by Kidega – hon. Nusura Tiperu hon. Bernard Mulengani, (Laughter). Then there was the tall man. hon. Dora Byamukama, hon. Mike Sebalu. Thank you for your continuous support to this In my peasant logic - watu washambani - I Assembly. Your experience will be very said the old members have already had their much needed as we move forward. turn, so that means it must be the turn of the new members, which are Rwanda, Burundi Your Excellency, on that note, it is my and South Sudan. These are the ones, which honour and privilege to invite you to address must produce the Speaker now. I was just the Fourth EALA. using my bush sense of justice. I did not ask the Attorney-General and all those people The President of the Republic of Uganda (His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni): because I did not have time. Thank you very much. Sit down. Then you would have to use other criteria. If the old members have already had their turn, Rt. hon. Speaker of EALA, Mr Ngoga, Rt. what other criteria do you use? Did the new hon. Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, members join at different times, because that Rt. hon. Rebecca Kadaga, all important can also be considered? Apart from the old persons - You spend so much time on members, who joined next? That one I could protocol mentioning all important people. not remember, but I thought that Burundi and Please, allow me to say that you are all very Rwanda joined at about the same time. I important because the two big ones represent could not remember that from my head. all of you - (Laughter). Once I address the Speaker of EALA and the Speaker of

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates

Assuming they joined at the same time, what What are the years? Five? I think we can other criteria do you have? I remembered – survive five years of this man – (Laughter). this is all bush and not bureaucratic files; just That is how I got involved, but we can discuss in my head, I remembered that Burundi has a it more. I am glad that you are all here now. I Secretary General now. So hawa wameisha was told that some of the members had pata kitu kizito. When I went to Kenya - that boycotted, but I am very happy that you are day I was going to Kenya, it was the 19th of all here, and I congratulate you. December and I was going to Kenya the same day. When I got to Kenya and consulted His I did not come to talk about the state of the Excellency Uhuru, somebody in the meeting East Africa because I had not been alerted on said, no, wait a minute. Rwanda also has the bureaucratic side of how to do that, but I some big person. I said who is that one? He came to talk about a subject, which I know said, he is the Chief Judge of the Court of very well, and which is the need for African Appeal. That means that the new members integration. This one, even if you wake me at both have some heavy weight. So, where do midnight, I will give you a lecture of five we go? Do we go to South Sudan now? hours if you have the stamina to survive the Because that would have been the… lecture – (Applause). As we were still discussing, I heard that you Integration in Africa, or in any other part of had elected. I still followed. I said, okay they the world, is about four things: Number one, have elected but what is the logic of electing? prosperity for the members of that area. We Somebody gave me information that, look integrate in order to unite the markets so that here, between Rwanda and Burundi, Burundi the markets can support the prosperity of our has a Secretary General, and Rwanda has a citizens. This integration is not about leaders, Judge President. However, a Judge President it is about the people. It is about the producers is just a lawyer, deciding cases. He is not so of wealth. When I produce wealth - if I am a much involved in the management of the farmer and I farm on a big scale, how big is organisation. The people who are involved in the market for my products? As I speak, in the management of the organisation are these Uganda…you were talking of hunger, Rt. powerful people, the Speaker and Secretary hon. Kadaga, that there is hunger in East General. These ones are running the Africa, and some problems somewhere, but organisation. One is running the Assembly, in Uganda we have got a huge crop of maize; which allows the Secretary General to do his 5 million tonnes. We are stuck with the work or whatever; supervises him. maize. For us we do not eat maize so much because we have other foods like bananas, Therefore, in terms of the organisation, these cassava. Maize flour – kaunga - is eaten by are the crucial posts. The other one – the soldiers and other people. judge is there but he is busy with some cases. Once they come - sometimes they do not Therefore, we end up eating only one million come - wako pembeni kidogo. tonnes. The four million are a surplus, and the production is increasing. So, when you go Then I said, once I see these young people, there, do not go there to fight for speakership maybe I will mention this logic to them, that and all this because whether you are Speaker maybe we pray for this Speaker who is there or not Speaker, you are there to fight for the now tumpe baraka tuone mambo prosperity of your people – (Applause). Ask, yatakwendaje. After all, this is not the end of please Tanzanians, Kenyans, Banyarwanda, the world. Dunia iko;tunaendelea mbele. Barundi, and South Sudan people, let us unite

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates our markets so that my maize producers in fight for speakership and all these things – Kibale district are not stuck with their maize, (Applause). That is not why you should go and the producers of milk are not stuck with there. You go there to fight for opportunities their milk. The same with the people of for East Africans who are engaged in Kenya and the things that they are producing production. If they are engaged in rumour to be sold here. mongering, of course they will have nothing to sell. Rumours are not marketable; you The people of Kenya, about 50 years ago, cannot sell rumours. Maybe you can sell liberated me from Coca Cola. In the 1950s them on the FM stations but not in the shops. and 1960s, if you went from home, you could This is the first point about integration. It is not get anything decent to drink except Coca about prosperity. Cola, Fanta, which was in Indian shops. I do not know why people drink those drinks; they Because you like to compare yourselves to are really bad. They are full of gas. You drink the Europeans, you can look at Germany. it and you start okutula embi – belching – Until 1871, Germany was not one country. (Laughter). But you had to buy Coca Cola They were Germans by race and culture, but because you had nothing clean to drink if you they were in 39 kingdoms. There was Prussia, left home. Saxony, Bavaria – 39 different kingdoms. What sparked the Pan-German movement In 1965, I went to Mbarara town and found was the big farmers in one of the German KCC milk. It was called Kenya Creameries. I kingdoms called Prussia. It had big farmers said, what is that? They said, this is milk. called Yinkas. Raw or what? No, it is pasteurised. Really? So I can drink milk instead of drinking Coca They had a lot of production but they could Cola? From that time, I have never drunk not sell their products in the entire German Coca Cola again. That was 1965 – area because when you would leave Prussia (Laughter). and try to enter Saxony, they put a tax on you; you leave Saxony and go to the other one, The people of Kenya liberated me from Coca there would be taxes. That is how they Cola but I also contributed to the prosperity formed the Pan-German movement by of the farmers in Kenya because I would buy Bismarck to fight the borders, which were KCC milk whenever I was not at home to stopping freedom of trade and, therefore, drink the tea of my mother and the milk of interfering with the prosperity of the my cows. Germans. Later on - and this time I was actually in This is the first word about integration, not Tanzania fighting Idi Amin - I went to speakership, not Secretary General. If those Bukoba town and I saw on the shelf there was people are there, they should be there to the same KCC milk, which had long life facilitate this. Otherwise, they should come called UHT. The other one, which I bought in back and just look after their goats – Mbarara, had short life; it had to be in the (Applause). fridge and so on. It had some logistics, but this one could stay on the shelf and would not The second word about integration in our go bad. It was called UHT. case is fraternity. These people of East Africa we are talking about are the same people. Therefore, when we talk of integration, know They are linked. Speaker Ngoga – that word that you are talking about the prosperity of “Ngoga” in Runyarwanda has a restricted ordinary East Africans. Do not go there to meaning. It means speed in Runyarwanda but

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates in Runyankole it means a combination of making glass beads here in Uganda at that speed and strength. It is both – “ayine time so where were they coming from? They engoga”. It is not just speed but also strength. were coming from Mesopotamia - what is now Iraq - through Zanzibar and Bagamoyo. When I look at Rwanda and Burundi, Tanzania… this Ngoga man apparently grew Therefore, apart from prosperity - ustawi wa up in Bukoba. He is actually a Muhaya, jamii - the next word when we are talking among other things, because when the about integration is Undugu - fraternity. Banyarwanda were scattered by the political upheavals in Rwanda, apparently this one The third word we are talking about when we was born in Mureeba. These Tanzanians do talk of integration is strategic security. not know what Mureeba is. Kagera is just a America has one of the best Presidents ever - river here. It is called Ihangiro. It belongs to Mr Trump. I love Trump. I love Trump the old kingdom of Ihangiro, the chiefdom. because he tells Africans frankly. I do not know whether he is misquoted or whatever, I was speaking Ruhaya with him when we but when he speaks, I like him because he were sitting there because Ruhaya is very speaks frankly. close to Runyankore. Now, your minister here, Maganda, strictly speaking I do not Africans need to solve their problems. They regard him as a Ugandan because you cannot need to be strong. In the world, you cannot be sure what he is. Most likely, he is Kenyan survive if you are weak. It is the fault of the - (Laughter). This is because the Samia – all Africans that they are weak because they those people, you cannot know who is who. have this huge continent. If you look at Africa, it is 12 times the size of India in land At one time, they had a vice president in area, with many resources. The population is Kenya called Moody Awori who has a growing now. Why can’t we make Africa brother who wanted to be President of strong? Uganda but I defeated him - (Laughter). Therefore, these people you are talking about Therefore, if you are not strong and – if you go to South Sudan - I do not know somebody tells you that you are weak, I really where some of my ministers belong. You ask love that person because he is doing my them, where are you from exactly and they work. He is saying what I have been saying cannot tell you because some of them are but from a different point of view – actually South Sudanese. That shows you the (Laughter). linkages of these people you are talking Therefore, for Africa to be strong and to about. When you are talking of East Africa, survive, we need integration so that we can you are talking of people who are either be able to speak with one voice and act similar or linked by language, by culture, by together. history. Finally, when we talk of integration, in the The trail from Zanzibar through Bagamoyo, case of East Africa, we are talking about the through Tabora, through Karagwe is old. Do better and rational use of even our common not think it was started by the East African natural resources. We have Lake Victoria, Community; No. there were excavations here which is shared by three countries. If we do in Uganda by archaeologists at a place called not manage it together and it is messed up on Ntusi and that settlement was active around one side, the damage on one side will come 900 AD. They found Ushanga – what is that and affect the other side. Therefore, there is in Kiswahili? Glass beads. We were not

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates no way you can manage Lake Victoria as river would go from here up to Egypt. For us, Uganda. Even if you do the good things on whether we say this is Uganda or Rwanda, or the Ugandan side, but on the Tanzanian side Burundi or Tanzania, it does not matter. The they do not do their work, or on the Kenyan river is one, whatever we say. If we do not side, the lake will be affected. manage it well, too bad for us, we shall be the losers – (Applause). For this God given lake to be managed properly, it must be managed on an East When that soil is washed in the lake, it also African basis. We should all agree that this is affects the fish, because what happens is that what we should do, all of us, and we do it. If when there is too much soil in the lake, there we say that there should be 500 metres of are nutrients and minerals in the water. These vegetation around the lake so that the water attract floating vegetation and algae. These does not bring in soil in the lake, we should take the oxygen of the fish, so the lake will all do it because even if I do it on one side, it die. will not help. Therefore, when we talk of integration, the I know one of the regions of Tanzania is fourth value of integration, it is the ability to called Kajera region. For them they say manage these common natural resources Kagera, but that is the Swahili way. For us we together and uniformly so that they can save say Kajera. Okujera is to melt. When us – (Applause). something melts, that is okujera. I know that river very well. The water of that river used The other day - during the new year - because to be blue, but if you go there now, the God has given me a long life, and I have told Kagera is brown. It is full of soil from the soil you before that what you people call history, erosion, which is happening upstream. I call current affairs because I was there EALA, if you could kindly visit the Kagera watching. Now here I have a paper called and you see how brown it is. Uganda Argus. This was the paper, which was being published here in the 1950s and Kagera being brown means it is bringing all 1960s. This particular issue was published on the soil from Burundi, Rwanda, 6 June 1963. I will give it to your Speaker so Rusumo…there is an ancient place, about that he can make copies for you. (Loud which we sing in our songs called Mubaali. consultations) - You have them? Very good. Is it in Rwanda now or in Karagwe? You Thank you very much. Are you the one who people do not know those – (Laughter). From did that? From your side? Okay. all these places, the soil is brought into Lake Victoria. Therefore, Lake Victoria, which we This is the picture of Mzee Kenyatta, are talking about, in time, will be silted up Mwalimu Nyerere, and Milton Obote when and become a swamp or shrink or disappear. they wanted to form one government of East Soil erosion is taking place, people are losing Africa before the end of 1963. They had a lot of soil in one part of our region, here the agreed. However, Shetani aliingia. This story lake is silting up and we are just looking on here and there, and so they failed. The only and fighting over speakership and all these one who kept insisting was Mwalimu things. Nyerere, and that is why I am a follower of Mwalimu all the time. That is why I went to Please, manage these natural resources study in Tanzania. I was not looking for because they are shared, including the one education; there was a university here. Why who created them. We are not the one who did I go to study in Tanzania? It is because I created them. He is the one who said that this was following Mwalimu Nyerere.

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates

By the failure of this move, here in my notes you people; it is about your people, the ones I call it “missed opportunity” and there were you represent and their future – (Applause). catastrophic events that happened because of this missed opportunity. If that union had One final point that I want to mention today taken place, you would never have had Idi – or maybe two. The Banyankore people say Amin in Uganda because you could not have - these are some people who live around here; an Idi Amin in a United East Africa. It is not they are one of the groups, and they have possible. When Idi Amin came up, Mwalimu good proverbs. One of them says “ija turye tried to intervene but he could not because kumwe biri ayinekya kurebireho”. This there was this idea that Uganda was an means, the one who invites you for a meal independent country. Therefore, with invites you because he expects you also to sovereignty, you have a right to kill your invite him back. Usifikiri mtu akikupa people because they are yours. You can kill chakula cha jioni, anakupenda tu. Anataka people and nobody can say, please stop, na wewe kesho umualike. because you are sovereign. We are negotiating with the European Union If we had had this union, Idi Amin would something called EPA (Economic never have arisen in Uganda. The genocide in Partnership Agreement). The people we are Rwanda, which took place, would never have negotiating with – some of them are big happened. East Africa would not allow countries or groups like China, India, USA, genocide to take place in a neighbouring EU, and Russia. When we are negotiating country. In the end, the genocide in Rwanda with them, it is very important that we was stopped by the Rwanda Patriotic Front. I negotiate as East Africa because if we are was supporting them chini chini uko. I could tempted to go alone, in the end those people not come out openly to support them because will never attend much to us because they if I did, I was the bad one; I am interfering in will say ana soko la uzito gani? Soko la huyu the affairs of somebody who is killing people. lina uzito gani? In this report, you will read that the Foreign If it is Uganda, 40 million people for China, Minister of Somalia attended this meeting as what does it mean? Mchina anaweza ku – out an observer, and Somalia wanted to join the of politeness, when I go there, Your East African Federation, if it had succeeded. Excellency, guard of honour, 21-gun salute! Therefore, this chaos, which is going on in It is politeness, but politeness is not the same Somalia, we cannot do anything about it. thing as power. When people are polite to Even when we are there, we are limited. You you, please know that – in our dialects here, cannot do this because this is sovereign. -, they will say “imfura”. You can see how advanced some The problems that are going on in South of these groups were. This concept of Sudan…we tried to help but we are on the “enfura” is …my relative cannot be called side. We are not able to act together fully. enfura. My relative is just my relative, but the The issues in Burundi…Therefore, the one who I treat as enfura, the one I must be integration that we are talking about is about careful about is the one who is not my the future of our people. It is not about relative. If the House is not clean, it must be positions. When you go there – and when I clean because we do not want enfura to see hear you quarrelling about positions, I feel so bad things about us. It is a respected stranger, sorry. These people are quarrelling about actually, not part of you. positions? Banange! Jamani! It is not about

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates

These foreigners treat us as enfura. So, respect but please do not be deceived. If we do not build our power, we shall lose out as it VOTE OF THANKS has happened in the past. The Speaker: Your Excellency, the Therefore, when we are negotiating, the beginning we had and the situation we went reason why these EPAs came out, some through and the ambition we have required countries like Kenya and Rwanda signed, that we come here for the First Sitting was Tanzania and Burundi did not sign. Uganda because we needed these words of wisdom. could have signed but I said, no. I will not This is what we expected. We have listened sign. I want to see whether we can all sign and understood – (Applause). together because that is where the strength is Honourable Members, every function I – (Applause). The strength is in togetherness. performed here was on your behalf. You 170 million East Africans – actually I think delegated that I do that, but there is one they are a bit more now - will be more function you never delegated because you listened to than Uganda’s 40 million in terms believed that someone else could do it better of bargaining power. Hence the proverb “ija than me. Therefore, hon. Dr Ann, can you turye kumwe biri ayine ekyakurebireho”. The please move the vote of thanks on behalf of one who invites you for a meal invites you all of us? because he says huyu mtu mwenye maana naye kesho atanialika. Dr Ann Itto Leonardo (South Sudan): Rt. hon. Speaker, I would like to thank you for Therefore, Rt. hon. Speaker of EALA, Rt. the opportunity to speak on behalf of my hon. Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, you colleagues. said something about me not missing any invitation you send to me. I cannot miss that Your Excellency, President of the Republic invitation - (Applause) - to talk about African of Uganda and Chairperson of the Summit of integration. What else am I talking about? East African heads of State, Rt. hon. Rebecca Halafu, Mungu amenipa miaka mingi Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, because if he did not want – I am now 73 Rt. hon. Martin Ngoga, Speaker of EALA, years old. God could have called me when I Chairperson of the EAC Council of was 50 but he postponed the summons – Ministers, Speakers emeritus: Abdirahin (Laughter). If I do not use that chance to talk Abdi, Rt. hon. Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, Rt. about African integration, I would be causing hon. Daniel Kidega, former Secretary myself kisirani. Is that what it is called in Generals, Amanya Mushega, my colleagues, Kiswahili? Unaweza kupata kisirani. Mungu members of the Fourth EALA, honourable akikupa uwezo ukakataa kuutumia ni mbaya. Clerk of the Parliaments of Uganda and East Akikupa uwezo utumie. African Legislative Assembly, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen. Therefore, I will come all the time because I have the strength to come - (Applause) - and I stand here before you on behalf of my the opportunity to come. colleagues, the members of the Fourth EALA, to give a vote of thanks to you, Mr With these few words…what do I do now? President, for honouring our invitation to What am I supposed to do? To open what? provide leadership whenever we make that Mbulira. Nkole ki muwala? Oh, I now request – (Applause). officially open EALA sitting – (Laughter).

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates

May I also say, Mr President, that we Mr President, there are some people who like appreciate your stand on integration and your to talk big and do little, but we have learnt passion for this East African integration and that charity begins at home. We see a lot of the integration of Africa as a whole, to give progress here in Uganda and you have been an opportunity for prosperity for our people? able, through your leadership, to transform (Applause) Uganda from a poor, insecure, war torn country into one that can hope to achieve Mr President, I am an East African from middle income status in 2020, and we believe South Sudan, recently admitted to the East you can make it because of the projects that African Community. I stand here proudly have been undertaken by this government in because of your efforts and commitment to this country – (Applause). integration and because of your help, even when other leaders doubted whether we We see peace and stability. I was around should be admitted. Thank you very much – when it was almost impossible to go to Gulu (Applause). We feel that we belong here. and South Sudan. We had lost many people Finally, after years of struggle, we have on that road. Today, people are engaged in joined our brothers and sisters in East Africa production rather than hiding and running with whom we can forge a common future of away. That tells a lot in terms of Uganda prosperity. Thank you for having us. being able to achieve its 2020 vision. Mr President, we are already beginning to see Mr President, there is a focus on developing the impact of your effort because it is human capital. We see women being working; we are seeing the fruits. There is promoted as producers, as Speakers, and that peace and stability in most parts of East is very important because they are the Africa. We cannot have everything, but there backbone of the family and the family is the is peace. Moreover, wherever there is need backbone of the country. If we can focus on for peace building, we see your footsteps that, it means it is possible for Uganda to there making an effort and doing all you can achieve the 2020 vision as a middle-income to make sure that our brothers and sisters country. enjoy peace because without peace, there can never be a successful integration of the Mr President, there is also the issue of economies, and it means that we continue to Universal Primary and Secondary Education suffer – (Applause). and you now have many universities apart from one Makerere. Believe me, Mr If we look around, we see that the Common President, about a quarter of the students Market is working. It used to take 28 days to attending these universities and primary and move goods from Mombasa to Kampala. secondary schools are mainly from South Now I understand it takes only six days. We Sudan – (Applause). are all looking forward to reaping the benefits of the Northern and Central Corridor projects You do not only contribute to the economy, of infrastructure, which include railways, but you are giving us education and a road networks, river transport, energy and IT. prosperous future because a country cannot All these will contribute to reduce time and do anything without human capital. I am a cost of doing business, and that will all beneficiary of that. 20 something years ago – translate into benefits for our people. We are I do not know whether I should say I am very thankful for the leadership you provide thankful there was war, but indeed it was a in that area. blessing in disguise because if I had stayed in South Sudan, I would have ended up an

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates uneducated woman. Thank God, I went to came here united with one single mission, primary school here. Then I went to Kings and we are going to work under our Speaker College, Budo. I do not know whether it still and we promise that our mission will be has the same name, but it is due to that service to our people and not positions foundation that I got from Uganda that today because we have seen what it can do. I can provide leadership in South Sudan and in East Africa as a whole, and it is a big We also pledge that we will work fully to contribution, Mr President – (Applause). support the efforts of our leaders in the process of integration because we need this It is when somebody thinks about that – unity, we need security and we need wealth (Interruption) - creation so that we can stand tall and proud and not be bullied by other giants outside this Mr Museveni: Which primary school did region. you go to? I therefore thank you very much, on behalf of Ms Leonardo: It is in Mpigi, Kabasanda - my colleagues. Thank you - (Applause). (Laughter). It is unfortunate that my has worn out, but I went there. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. Dr Ann for a very eloquent presentation of our message to Mr President, you also host – Uganda is one His Excellency the President. country, I think, that hosts a huge number of refugees, and I am among those refugees Your Excellency, honourable Members, just from South Sudan. Our children and women a small moment of indulgence so that I can continue to benefit from the services you do proper recognition of my seniors. The offer, particularly the primary, secondary and Speakers emeritus: hon. Abdi, hon. Zziwa, university education. This good effort is hon. Kidega, we have mentioned you being made as a contribution to the repeatedly, but I have to do it the proper way integration process. It is when you acquire - (Applause). Your Lordship the Judge these skills that you can begin talking about President, the ambassadors and high wealth creation – (Applause). We really commissioners of the East African Partner appreciate that. States here in Kampala, thank you for accepting our invitation - (Applause). I heard you say something was in Kiswahili. I am just new and I do not know Kiswahili Honourable colleagues, we shall have a photo very well, but we pray that God does not open session right after this function. The protocol that file yet because there is a lot for you to will lead us through and in a short while, I do in Uganda, Mr President and in the whole will adjourn the House. of East Africa. We pray that he does not open that file because there is a lot to do - (Laughter).

I would like to conclude, on behalf of my colleagues, that it is true that EALA Four started on rocky ground, but that is what happens when people do not know themselves and they are not aware of the mission they are on. However, after today, I think we are clear about our mission. We

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Tuesday 23 January 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates

ADJOURNMENT The Speaker: Honourable colleagues, the House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 30 January at 9.30 a.m. right here in the Chambers of the Uganda Parliament. The House stands adjourned. (The House rose at 12.30 p. m and adjourned until Tuesday, 30 January 2018 at 9.30 a.m.)

(The EAC Anthem was played) (The Uganda National Anthem was played)

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