EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY _____________ EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBL (EALA) Official Report of the Proceedings of the East African Legislative Assembly 6TH SITTING - SECOND MEETING–FIRST SESSION – FOURTH ASSEMBLY Wednesday, 7 February 2018 The East African Legislative Assembly met at 09:58 a.m. in the Uganda Parliament, Kampala, Uganda. (The Speaker, Mr. Martin .K. Ngoga, in the Chair.) The Assembly was called to order. PRAYER COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR particularly EALA, are proud of your accomplishments and we thank you for The Speaker: Good morning, honourable having made us part of your celebrations. members. Welcome back to this final lap of Congratulations. our sitting here in Kampala. Thank you, honourable colleagues who joined us in the ADMINISTRATION OF OATH Tarehe Sita celebrations. I think you all agree The Speaker: Honourable members, I rise to that it was a very colourful and successful notify you that hon. Amb. Dr Augustine P. event. Mahiga, Minister for Foreign Affairs and We congratulate the Government and people East African Cooperation of the United of Uganda for the achievements they have Republic of Tanzania is present and would registered since they set out to fundamentally like to take his seat in this House. transform their country. The region, and Wednesday 07 February 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates However, in accordance with the provisions that we will continue to see you here in our of rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of this sittings. Thank you. Assembly, he cannot sit or participate in the proceedings of the House until he takes the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the Honourable members, Amb. Mahiga had Treaty as a member of the Assembly. indicated to me that he wanted to say a word to you and according to our rules, I will ask him to proceed under Rule 40. Amb. Mahiga, Rule 5(5) specifically states that; you have the Floor. When a member first attends to take The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East his or her seat, other than at the First Sitting African Cooperation, the United Republic of a new House, he or she shall be brought to of Tanzania (Dr Augustine P. Mahiga): Mr. the table by two members and presented by Speaker, distinguished members of the East them to the Speaker who shall then African Legislative Assembly, ladies and administer the oath or affirmation of gentlemen. This being my first time to stand allegiance to him or her. before this august House. Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate you for being elected as Speaker of the Fourth EALA. I, therefore, request any two members who You have assumed this position when know hon. Amb. Dr Augustine Mahiga to integration is moving apace and successfully bring him to the table and present him before meeting all the challenges that are inbuilt in me to enable me administer the Oath of the integration process. We are moving fast Allegiance. from one stage to another and we hope that together we shall continue to overcome and enhance our Community. The oath was administered to: Mr. Speaker, in the same vein, may I take this Mr Augustine Phillip Mahiga rare opportunity to congratulate honourable members for managing to pass through the The Speaker: Congratulations, Amb. hot tunnel and get a well-deserved election to Mahiga. We welcome you to the Assembly as the Fourth EALA. To all of you, one of our own and we thank the United congratulations. (Applause) Republic of Tanzania for sending to us Amb. Mahiga. He is a very experienced and In a huge way, I wish to welcome our accomplished diplomat and so his brothers and sisters from the Republic of membership in this House is a big value South Sudan to their maiden journey joining addition. Thank you. this noble House. Let us use our presence and your presence in this august Assembly as a venue to serve the East Africans to meet their long awaited dream of prosperity to their We are looking forward – Amb. Mahiga, we lives. know that you have a big portfolio with a lot of other attributions but we hope that you will Honourable members, I feel humbled while continue to place EALA in your priorities and privileged and allow me to underscore the significance of this House to this unique 2 Wednesday 07 February 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates integration process in East Africa. You are I have seen you in action in Zanzibar, in Dar one of the longest serving institutions of the es Salaam and I hope it will be repeated soon. East African integration process. Indeed, Thank you very much. from the colonial times through the thick and thin that we went through after independence, Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving we recognise the significance of the me this opportunity. I just want to thank and legislative process of the East African wish all of you a happy new year and a Legislative Assembly. (Applause) successful session now and subsequently. Thank you. You are the custodians of the Treaty. You are the custodians of the rules and regulations The Speaker: Thank you, Ambassador that make this Community what it is and Mahiga, for a well deserving maiden speech. different from other institutions. You are the Honourable members, I was talking to institution that acts as a ginger to our Ambassador Mahiga and we are negotiating governments, speaking without fear or favour with the United Republic of Tanzania to host in areas where governments have to act our next plenary. We have his promise that he accordingly. There cannot be an integration is going to work on that - (Applause). process, whether in Africa, Europe, Asia or Latin America without a legislative Assembly. Hansard officials have requested me that The legislative Assembly is essential to when we speak, we need to introduce making governments translate their political ourselves. You know they are still struggling will but without you, that political will may with our names so let us remember always to falter and, therefore, we need you as an introduce ourselves. Thank you. indispensable institution to sustain and continue to highlight and deepen that MOTION political will among our leaders. ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE You are also the torchbearers of that political EALA COMMISSION will to the people. You are the indispensable link to the people of East Africa. Political will Ms Fancy Haji Nkuhi (Tanzania): Mr. alone is not enough. Legislative, Speaker, I beg to move a Motion on Election administrative skills are not adequate. We of embers to fill vacancies on the East have to bring the people behind the process African Legislative Assembly Commission, and you are a link. You have a challenge sections 3 and 5 of the Administration of the before you and we trust that we shall proceed East African Legislative Assembly Act, and succeed as you continue to devise your 2012 and rule 83(1-3) of the Rules of very constructive and imaginative ways of Procedure. reaching out to the East African population. I wish you all the best and please continue to The Speaker: Thank you, hon. Fancy. do so. We, as government, will continue to Seconders? Hon. Susan Nakawuki, hon. work with you and I, in particular, I have not Mbidde, hon. Kim Gai, hon. Kasamba and all had the chance to attend these sessions the members standing. Hon. Francine, justify. because many times we have issues but I hope that in this Fourth Assembly, I will spare time and be with you. (Applause) Ms Nkuhi: Mr Speaker, 3 Wednesday 07 February 2018 East African Legislative Assembly Debates AWARE THAT the Administration of 1. To elect members of the Commission East African Legislative Assembly Act, 2012 representing the Republic of Burundi from came into force on 6 July 2012; those duly nominated persons to the provision of section 5 of the Act and rule 83 AND WHEREAS the above said Act, by the of the Rules of Procedure of this House.” provision of section 3(1) establishes the Commission known as the East African The Speaker: Thank you, hon. Francine. Legislative Assembly Commission herein Honourable members, the proposal is that after known as the Commission; this House, pursuant to the provisions of section 3(2) and section 5(2) of the AND WHEREAS section 3(1) of the Act Administration of the Assembly Act, 2012 provides that the members of the Commission and rule 83(1)(2) do elect members to shall be composed of the speaker, the constitute the EALA Commission. Debate is Chairperson of the Council, who shall be an open. ex-officio member and two members of the Assembly from each Partner State elected by the Assembly; Mr Gabriel Garang Aher Arol (South AND WHEREAS section 5(1) of the Act Sudan): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have just provides that members of the Commission one clarification. It is written here that the shall be elected as soon as the Assembly is two members being proposed for the constituted; Commission are hon. Muhirwa Jean-Marie and hon. Nduwayo Christopher – AND WHEREAS rule 83 provides that members of the Commission shall be elected, The Speaker: there has been an amendment the election of members of the Commission for the motion and we apologise that the new shall be by secret ballot and in accordance version was not circulated. with section 3(2) of the Administration of the Mr Arol: Okay, thank you. Assembly Act, 2012 and shall hold office for two and half years and nomination for Dr Abdullah Hasnuu Makame (Tanzania): members of the Commission shall be Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.