At the just ended Sixth meeting of the 2nd Session, EALA has granted Hon Dr James Ndahiro leave to introduce a Private Members’ Bill on Electronic transactions. The Bill is known as the EAC Electronic Transactions Bill, 2014.
The object of this Bill is to make provision for the use, security, facilitation and regulation of electronic communications and transactions, to encourage the use of e-Government service and to provide for related matters.
According to the mover, Hon. Dr. Ndahiro, it has been established that the Community needs to maximally exploit the great resource of ICTs thus ensuring that businesses and institutions have access to these modern technologies.
It is on the basis of such background that the EAC Electronic Transactions Bill, 2014 has been put together in order to meet the need of exploiting electronic transactions in the modern business transactions that have become common.
The Bill further wants to promote technology neutrality in applying legislation to electronic communications and transactions; and to develop a safe, secure and effective environment for the consumer, business and the governments of the Partner States to conduct and use electronic transactions.
During debate yesterday, Hon Nancy Abisai noted that the Bill would promote investments in the region by enabling transactions of business to be realised. Hon Valerie Nyirabineza termed the Bill timely in the region’s quest to reduce bureaucracies while Hon Nusura Tiperu noted that the Bill was in line the desire to promote sharing of information and cooperation through technological advancement.
Hon Mike Sebalu noted that the region had embraced the digital era and termed the Bill relevant to the transformation agenda while Hon Patricia Hajabakiga remarked that EAC stood to benefit through increased competitiveness.
Article 59 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community empowers any Member of the Assembly to propose any Motion or to introduce any Bill in the Assembly. The same article is translated in the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly and in particular Rules 26 and 64. Once ready, the progress of the Bill shall be carried out in the same way as that followed in respect of a Community Bill.
-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
