East African Legislative Assembly, Kampala, Uganda: January 18, 2017: EALA today administered an Oath of Allegiance to Hon. Francois Kanimba, Minister of Trade, Industry and EAC, Republic of Rwanda, as an Ex-Officio of the Assembly.
The new Member took the Oath of Allegiance to the EAC Treaty, in accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly in an occasion, administered by the Clerk of EALA, before the EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Daniel F. Kidega.
The Rules of Procedure say in part Rule 5 (4) 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”.
Rule 5(5) specifically states that “when a Member first attends to take his or her seat other than at the first Sitting of a new House, he or she shall be brought to the table by two Members and presented by them to the Speaker who shall then administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance”.
Hon Francois Kanimba was ushered into the House by Hon Martin Ngoga and Hon Patricia Hajabakiga.
In a Cabinet reshuffle on October 4th, 2016, the EAC Affairs Ministry was merged with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to form the Ministry of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs, with Hon François Kanimba retained as the Minister. He replaces Amb Valentine Rugwabiza, former Minister of EAC Affairs in Rwanda, who was appointed Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to New York.
Hon Kanimba is a long serving Minister in the Government of Rwanda. He was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry of Rwanda on 10th May 2011. Under Hon Kanimba’s leadership, in the Ministry, Rwanda developed new strategies to promote a competitive private sector and expand the export base of the country.
This is after a long career as an economist and banker. Hon Kanimba was a long serving Governor of the Central Bank of Rwanda (2002-2011), having risen to the position from First Deputy Governor. He previously co-ordinated the World Bank operations in Rwanda in the areas of Macroeconomic Management and Private Sector Development. He was previously, Chairman of the Governance Task Force which negotiated the first Structural Adjustment Program in Rwanda supported by the World Bank, IMF and other Development Partners.
Hon Kanimba is a graduate of Engineering in Statistics and Economics from the European Centre for Training Economists and Statisticians for Developing Countries (Paris 1983).
-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.
