…meanwhile, EAC Vote on Account to be debated on Friday this week
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: August 17th, 2020: The new Minister for East African Community Affairs, Republic of South Sudan, Hon Deng Alor Kuol, this morning, virtually, took Oath of Allegiance, as an Ex-Officio Member of the Assembly.
Hon Kuol was sworn in to the House virtually before the Speaker and Members of EALA in line with the Rule 5 of the Rules and Procedures of the Assembly. The Rule 5(4) of the Rules of Procedure says in part that: “No Member can sit or participate in the proceedings of the House until the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the Treaty is taken”.
EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin congratulated Hon Kuol upon his swearing in – as he assumes his ex-officio role in the regional August House. The Speaker said Hon Kuol, was a seasoned politician/diplomat, who served Cabinet in various portfolio and said EALA was looking forward to working with him.
“ I welcome Hon Kuol who is a big value addition to the Assembly and we pledge to work together towards objective of EAC integration,” the Speaker said.
Hon Kuol was appointed Minister in charge of EAC by H.E. Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan, replacing the former Minister, the late Hon John Luk Jok Ruach who passed away on June 2nd, 2020.
Hon Kuol has previously served in a number of portfolios in respective governments of the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan.
Among the portfolios, Hon Kuol was formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs in Sudan in the year 2007 as well as Minister for Cabinet Affairs in Khartoum’s government of national unity. After independence in the Republic of South Sudan, he also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs in Juba.
In his maiden speech, Hon Kuol assured EALA of Republic of South Sudan’s commitment to the integration process. “We joined the EAC few years ago, but due to a number of reasons, we have not fully participated in the integration process. I assure you we shall henceforth fully participate as per the expectations of the EAC. We shall meet our obligations and play our part in so far as building the integration process is concerned”, Hon Kuol said.
With the swearing in as an ex-officio Member, Hon Kuol, now joins the EAC Council of Ministers. The Republic of Rwanda is the current Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers.
Meanwhile the Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga has directed the Office of the Clerk, EALA and the EAC Secretariat to furnish the EALA Committee on General Purpose with all documents pertaining to the EAC Vote on Account, no later than close of business on August 17th, 2020. The Speaker in his ruling, further directed the Committee on General Purpose, chaired by Hon Denis Namaara, to finalise scrutiny on the EAC Vote on Account proceedings and to report back to the House, when it resumes on August 21st, 2020.
Earlier on, Hon Namaara had informed the House of the inability of the Committee to finalise its report, saying the EAC Secretariat, Organs and Institutions, were yet to furnish the Committee with the requisite documents on the expenditures as is procedural.
At debate time, several Members said all necessary documentation needed to be availed to the Committee to enable it complete scrutiny and to spur comprehensive discussions during debate. The Members in support included Hon Rose Akol, Hon Kennedy Kalonzo, Hon Wanjiku Muhia, Hon Simon Mbugua, Hon Oda Gasinzigwa, Hon Dr Abdullah Makame and Hon Gai Deng, Hon Dr Oburu Oginga on his part, said the Vote on Account was to take care of the issues at the Community as the main budget is scrutinized, saying the process should not be delayed any further.
The Chair of the Council of Ministers, Hon Nshuti Manasseh, directed the EAC Secretariat to comply with the request for the Assembly.
Under Article 6 of the EAC Budget Act, 2009, the Assembly may approve a Vote on Account in every financial year to enable normal operations of the Community in the first quarter of the new Financial Year and before the approval of the budget. The Vote on Account shall not exceed one third of the total budget of the Community or of any of its institutions.
-Ends-
__________________________
For more Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer;
East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945+254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
