Debate on Oaths Bill put on hold as Assembly adjourns

EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Arusha, Tanzania, March 18^th, 2018: EALA Thursday last week adjourned sine die (indefinitely) after an intensive week of Sitting.  Also postponed by the House at Committee stage was debate on the EAC Oaths Bill, 2017, to allow for more deliberations when it resumes.

Chairperson of the General Purpose Committee, Hon Abdikadir Aden, moved a motion to adjourn the debate for future date in order to give the Council of Ministers and the Committee on Legal Rules and Privileges enough time to draw a roadmap on how to move forward with the said Bill.

The report of the Legal Rules and Privileges Committee on the EAC Oaths Bill 2017 was however presented by the Chair of the Legal Rules and Privileges Committee, Hon Amb Fatuma Ndangiza.

The Bill originates from the Council of Ministers.  The Council of Ministers’ Chairperson, Rt Hon Ali Kirunda Kivejinja moved the Bill at the 2^nd Meeting of the 1^st Session held in Kampala, Uganda, in February 2018.  The object of the East African Community Administration of Oaths Bill, 2017, is to provide for the taking and administering of oaths in relation to specific persons appointed to serve in the Organs or Institutions of the Community or required to take oath before giving evidence in the East African Court of Justice. Whereas, there are specific persons who are required by the Treaty like in the case of Judges and Registrars of the EACJ or an Act of the Community like in the case of Members of EALA, all other cases oaths of offices or allegiance are administered and taken in accordance with staff rules and regulations or by practice. The Bill therefore hopes to cure the lacuna by providing for the administration of an oath as a statute.

In accordance with the Rule 66 (4) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the Bill was referred to the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges. The Committee conducted three meetings in Arusha and reviewed literature concerning the subject matter of the Bill, reviewed existing legislation and held an interactive meeting with the Principal Legislative Draftsman of the Community. The Committee further received comments for consideration from the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA).

During the brief debate of the report, Members agreed to incorporate amendments to strengthen the report’s literature section and for the use of more reliable sources of information.  Members who rose in support of the report were Hon Deng Gai, Hon Mohammed Mnyaa, Hon Mary Mugyenyi and the CTC to the Community, Hon Dr Anthony Kafumbe.

Dodoma is expected to host the next Plenary Sitting in April, 2018.

-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