The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) will hold its Fourth Meeting of the Third Session at the Rwanda National Parliament from 11– 23 April 2010.
Notable business that will be considered during the two weeks the Assembly will conduct its Plenary and Committee meetings include:
- Address by H.E Paul Kagame, President Republic of Rwanda on Wednesday 14 April, 2010;
- Symposium and visit to the Rebero Genocide Memorial Site;
- Debate and passage of the EAC Competition (Amendment) Bill 2009;
- Debate and passage of the EAC Election Bill 2007;
- Reconsideration of the CASSOA Bill;
- Debate and passage of the Lake Victoria Commission Bill 2007;
- Receive and consider Report on Nyanyuki V Inter-Parliamentary Seminar;
- Receive and consider Report on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW); and
- Priority Questions and Answers
The Communication, Trade and Investment Committee; Accounts Committee and the General Purpose Committee will on the 19 April 2010 hold a joint meeting with AWEPA on Accra Agenda for Aid Effectiveness.
The EALA General Purpose Committee is also expected on the afternoon of 19 April 2010 to meet representatives of the East African Youth Network to discuss the advancement of the youth agenda. The discussions are expected to focus on the creation of East African Youth Council and the adoption of the draft East African Youth Charter on Human Rights and Good Governance.
Background
The East African Community Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2009
The East African Community Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2009, was introduced by the Council and was read for the first time and committed to the EALA Committee on Communications, Trade and Investment for Consideration at the 3rd meeting of the Legislative assembly.
The Objective of the Bill, as decided by the Council at its19th Meeting, is to amend Section 38 of the Act to Provide for an East African Community Competition Authority in which both Burundi and Rwanda are represented.
The Bill will be tabled for the Second and Third reading by the Chairperson of the Council.
The East African Community Elections Bill, 2008
The Second Reading of the East African Community Election Bill, 2008, was introduced through a motion by Hon. Dan Wandera Ogalo on 18 February, 2010. It was adjourned sine die at the Instance of the EALA Committee in Legal, Rules and Privileges to allow the Committee more time to consult all relevant stakeholders including the partner States’ Electoral Commissions.
The Bill is to be used as a tool to entrench a democratic culture of transparent electoral processes and to prevent conflict in the region was passed by the EALA in accordance with Article 49 (2)(d) and 49(3) of the Treaty that provides the Assembly the mandate to discuss all matters pertaining to the community and make recommendations as it may deem necessary for the implementation of the Treaty.
According to the mover of the private member Bill, Hon. Dan Ogalo, the Bill seeks to make provisions to ensure the full comprehensive and effective management of Presidential and National Assembly Elections through an established model East African Electoral Commission that will manage free, fair and credible elections and processes incidental to the conduct of the elections in the EAC region.
The Commission once established will be recognized as an Organ of the East African Community with perpetual succession, capable of suing and being sued in its name. The Commission will be mandated to provide for the registration and management of the election register, manage demarcation of constituency boundaries, coordinate appointment of election offices and manage procedures at elections and other incidental matters.
According to Part IV Section 20(1) of the Bill, the Commission shall also hear and determine election complaints alleging any irregularities at any stage of the electoral process.
The East Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency Bill, 2009
Pursuant to Article 63 of the Treaty (read together with Section 7 of the Acts of the East African Community, Act 2004), This Bill will be reconsidered by the legislative Assembly regarding matters in respect of which the Bill has not been assented to.
The East Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency Bill, 2008 was passed and presented for Presidential Assent at the 1st Meeting, 3rd Session, 2nd Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on 6 August 2009 after adopting the report presented to it by the Committee on Communications, Trade and Investments chaired by Hon. Catherine Kimura of the EALA.
Article 92 of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community, requires the EAC Partner States to harmonize their policies on civil aviation in order to promote the development of safe, reliable, efficient and economically viable civil aviation sector with a view to developing appropriate infrastructure, aeronautical skills and technology, as well as the role of civil aviation in support of other economic activities.
The East African Legislative Assembly
The East African Legislative Assembly is the legislative organ of the East African Community. Its membership consists of a total of 52, of whom 45 are elected members (9 from each Partner State) and seven ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).While the Seat of the Assembly is in Arusha - Tanzania, meetings of the Assembly may be held in any of the Partner States as per the Provisions of Article 55 of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community.
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is effected by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to shall be styled an Act of the Community.
