EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY _______________ IN THE EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (EALA) The Official Report of the Proceedings of the East African Legislative Assembly 163rd Sitting – Third Assembly: Fifth Meeting – Fifth Session Monday, 6 March 2017 The East African Legislative Assembly met at 11:30 a.m. in the Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of Rwanda in Kigali. (Rwanda National Anthem) (East African Community Anthem) PRAYER (The Speaker, Mr. Daniel Fred Kidega, in the Chair) (The Assembly was called to order.) ___________________________________________________________________________ The Speaker: Thank you, honourable. PROCEDURAL MOTION Seconders? Hon. Dora Byamukama, hon. Kimbisa and all the members standing. The Chairperson, Legal Rules and Privileges Committee (Mr. Peter Hon. Mathuki, you may justify your motion Mathuki) (Kenya): Thank you, Mr. in a very short time. Speaker and honourable members. Mr Mathuki: Thank you. Your I move that this House, pursuant to the Excellency, Mr President, hon. Speaker, provisions of Article 55(1) of the Treaty honourable Members - and Rule 11 of the Rules of Procedure, do “WHEREAS Clause 1 of Article 55 of the resolve to hold sittings in Kigali, in the Treaty provides that the meetings of the Republic of Rwanda. Assembly shall be held at such times and I beg to move – (Applause). places as the Assembly may appoint and; WHEREAS Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure provides that the seat of the 1 Monday 6 March 2017 East African Legislative Assembly Debates Assembly shall be at Arusha in the United The Speaker: Honourable members, Republic of Tanzania and; amidst us today is His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of WHEREAS Rule 10 provides that the Rwanda. (Applause) meetings of the Assembly shall be held at such times and places as the Assembly may I have, in accordance with the provisions of appoint and shall meet at least one in every Article 54 of the Treaty, invited His year at Arusha in the United Republic of Excellency the President to address this Tanzania and at a time to be determined by Assembly. the Assembly; I now would like to make the following NOW THEREFORE this Assembly do proclamation to welcome his presence in resolve as follows: the Assembly. 1. That pursuant to the provisions of PROCLAMATION Rule 10 stated above, the Assembly shall hold sittings in the Rwanda “WHEREAS clause 1 of Article 54 of the Chamber of Deputies from today 6 Treaty provides that the Speaker of the March 2017 up to Thursday 16 Assembly can invite any person to attend March 2017.” the Assembly, notwithstanding that he or she is not a member of the Assembly if, in Mr Speaker, I beg to move. his or her opinion, the business of the Assembly renders his or her presence The Speaker: Thank you, hon. Peter desirable and; Mathuki. Honourable Members, the motion before this Assembly is WHEREAS in the opinion of the Speaker, the attendance and presence in the This House, pursuant to the Assembly of the President of the Republic provisions of Article 55(1) of the of Rwanda is desirable in accordance with Treaty and Rule 11 of our Rules of the business now before the Assembly; Procedure, do resolve to hold sittings in Kigali in the Republic of NOW THEREFORE it is with great Rwanda. pleasure and honour, on your behalf, members, to welcome the President of the Debate is open. Republic of Rwanda in this Assembly.” (Applause) Honourable Members, you know this is a tradition, and I think we are all REMARKS BY THE SPEAKER OF unanimously in support of the motion. EALA TO WELCOME THE Allow me, therefore, to put a question to the PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE TO motion moved by hon. Peter Mathuki, MAKE HIS REMARKS Chair, Committee of Legal Rules and Privileges- The Speaker: Your Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of That this House, pursuant to the Rwanda, Rt. hon. Makuza Bernard, provisions of Article 55(1) of the President of the Senate of the Parliament of Treaty and Rule 11 of the Rules of Rwanda, the Chairperson and Council of Procedure, do resolve to hold EAC Ministers, honourable ministers of the sittings in Kigali in the Republic of Republic of Rwanda, the Secretary General Rwanda. of the East African Community, honourable Members of EALA, Members of the Senate (Question put and agreed to.) and Members of the Chamber of Deputies 2 Monday 6 March 2017 East African Legislative Assembly Debates of the Parliament of Rwanda, Members of hand, and on the other hand, it serves to the Assembly emeritus, Your Excellences, sensitise and create rapport with the citizens Ambassadors and High Commissioners, of the region. distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I acknowledge your actual participation as I wish to thank the Rt. hon. Bernard captain of the Rwanda football team, Makuza, President of the Senate of Rwanda although we missed you in Mombasa, and, indeed, the Government of the where you did not come to dribble the ball Republic of Rwanda for accepting to host like you always do – (Laughter). the Assembly for the entire duration of the Fifth Meeting, of the Fifth session. As EALA, we are proud of you. You have (Applause) not let the legislators down, you have not let the Legislature of Rwanda down, you have I, on your behalf, congratulate hon. Makuza not let the children, women, and men of this for leading the Senate with much dedication great nation down and you have not let the and charisma since assuming the office or Republic of Rwanda down. (Applause) the position of the President of the Senate in October 2014. (Applause) I wish to commend His Excellency President Paul Kagame who in his wisdom I vividly recall your subsequent election as continues to empower citizens in all spheres President of the Senate, where you garnered of life, including the likes of the Rt. hon. 25 votes out of 26 votes cast then and with Makuza and many others, to make their no opposing candidate. Rt. hon. Makuza, contribution in nation building. that very act was indeed a vote of ultimate confidence in your ability and leadership. Rt. hon. Makuza, I am confident that under (Applause) Over the last few years, I have your leadership, the legislature of Rwanda observed with contentment the extreme in general shall continue to make passion and dedication you exhibit as you significant contributions and achievements, continue to offer leadership at the Senate. and its role as the legislature in oversight and in representation will, indeed, be Rt. hon. Makuza, your experience in strengthened in this great republic. I can leadership makes you a natural and perfect vouch that your contribution as the choice to lead the Senate, owing to your legislature of Rwanda in helping the previous experience in top government country to achieve its development targets roles, including that of being Prime as envisioned in Vision 2020 will remain Minister of this great Republic, steadfast. Ambassador to Germany and to Burundi, and Senator, among many other roles you Your Excellency, distinguished guests, have held. EALA has recently revised the rules of procedure that govern the EAC Bureau of In many ways, you have gone the extra mile Speakers to include Speakers of the in creating avenues for the interface respective Senates in the Partner States. I between the ordinary Rwandan and the am sure that we shall benefit from the legislature of Rwanda. This aspect has been experience and resourcefulness of the Rt. extended to the region. hon. Makuza as he joins the Bureau of Speakers to enable us intensify the linkages Rt. hon. Makuza has made tremendous between EALA and the national contribution towards the Annual Inter parliaments. Parliamentary Games of the East African Community, which is a key aspect of EALA is truly grateful for the spirit of building relations between the Assembly sisterhood, and looks forward to further and the national legislatures on the one 3 Monday 6 March 2017 East African Legislative Assembly Debates strengthening and solidifying the relations enables regular interaction with the people between the legislature of Rwanda and us. of all the Partner States. (Applause) Before I finish, permit me to note the fact Your Excellency the President, as we all that both the Senate and the Chamber of know, this session of the EALA is held in Deputies are concurrently holding their Rwanda at a time when the Assembly is sessions during this period. In a very special approaching the end of its term, and the way, therefore, permit me to thank both, process of electing a new Assembly is you, Rt. hon. Makuza, and the Rt. hon. underway in the Partner States. The address Donatille Mukabaliza, Speaker of the to this Assembly by Your Excellency is Chamber of Deputies, for your therefore certainly going to be an magnanimity in according the regional opportunity to reflect on the route the Assembly an opportunity to have its sittings Community has travelled during the past here in spite of your busy schedules. We five years, and on how the organs of the shall be forever grateful for this – Community and national institutions are (Applause). playing their respective complementary roles. We take forward our vision of I assure you of my unreserved support and transforming the region into an integrated, the support of this Assembly, and I hereby prosperous and self-reliant Community wish you every success in the coming years. serving the interests of our people. (Applause) The issue of integration and cooperation With these few remarks, I now take this remains critical for all initiatives, activities opportunity to invite you, my brother and and programmes of the Community in the friend, Rt.