EALA is calling for the creation of a legal framework to form a regional audit commission in a move that shall see the audit function at the EAC expanded. At the same time, regional legislators have urged the EAC Management to enhance capacity building to appreciate possible mistakes in financial management of the EAC Organs and Institutions.
Late yesterday, the EALA debated and adopted the Report of the Committee on Accounts on Workshop of Enhancement of Members’ skills to appreciate audited accounts.
The report was presented to the House by the Chair of the Committee on Accounts, Hon Straton Ndikuryayo.
The report underscores the need for the Members knowledge and skills to be enhanced through capacity building so that they can fully execute their mandate of oversight. It also wants the EAC scope of audit expanded to include management audit, environmental audit, specialized value for money audit and forensic audit where necessary.
According to Hon Ndikuryayo, the Audit Commission should further be facilitated to enable them be present during review and presentation of the Audit report.
The report emanated from a capacity building workshop for the EALA Committee on Accounts. The workshop held in Bujumbura, Burundi on August 3-6, 2014, was called to enable Members gain knowledge on interpretation of financial statements and their presentation, learn relationships between the Audit Commission, EAC Secretariat and the Committee on Accounts.
The workshop was facilitated by experienced resource persons from the region
During debate, Hon Shyrose Bhanji maintained that a capacity building workshop was vital for the whole House.
Hon Zein Abubakar maintained that there was need to have integrity in the House as a pre-cursor to its oversight role in budgeting, audit and other matters. We must ourselves be integral and look inwards. I call on the House to rise above the occasion and inculcate instruments of truth and accountability, Hon Zein remarked.
The Secretary General of the EAC, Amb Dr. Richard Sezibera urged the House to appreciate the importance of capacity building on audit but maintained that additional work to interrogate reports should be done with the stakeholders involved.
The Secretary General clarified the role of internal auditors at the EAC Secretariat.
“I assure the House that the internal auditors of the Community are independent. They report functionally to the Audit Commission and only administratively to the Secretary General”, Amb Sezibera stated.
The Chair of the Council of Ministers, Hon Phyllis Kandie lauded capacity building initiatives as worthy of support.
“I support the report and capacity building of all the Institutions and Organs of the EAC”, Hon Kandie said.
Hon Dora Byamukama remarked that it was necessary for EALA to change its modus operandi.
“Capacity building workshop reports should perhaps be laid on the table and instead, the opportunity used for Members to update themselves on integration matters”, the legislator said.
“We need to discuss this when we handle the Rules of Procedure, Hon Byamukama added.
The motion was further supported by Hon Judith Pareno, Hon Susan Nakawuki, Hon Mumbi Ngaru.
This afternoon, EALA is expected to debate on the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources on Regional Parliamentarians’ Workshop on Forests and Climate Change and Motions
DOWNLOAD REPORT: CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR THE EALA COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTS
For more information, contact:
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Officer, East African Legislative Assembly.
Tel: +255-27-2508240
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Email: BOdiko@eachq.org,
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