East African Legislative Assembly, kampala, Uganda, 19 February 2010: The Third Meeting, Third Session of the Second Assembly under the chairmanship of EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdirahin Haithar Abdi wound up its sitting in Kampala on Friday by among others, adopting an Election Observation Manual for the East African Community; adopting resolutions urging Partner States to fight Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C); and thanking Hon. Monique Mukaruliza, former Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers for a job well done during her tenure.
EAC Election Manual
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) adopted a draft election observation manual, expected to enhance democracy, rule of law and governance, which is essential for political, social and economic development of the region. According to Hon. Mike Sebalu (Uganda), the Chairperson of the EAC Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution, the document sets a common standard to determine the credibility of electoral processes and the legitimacy of electoral outcomes in the five countries of the East Africa Community (EAC). He informed the House that his Committee developed the manual as a tool to entrench a democratic culture of transparent electoral processes and to prevent conflict in the region.
EALA MPs who contributed to the debate pointed out that elections have been a source of instability in the East African region and thus the manual would be a recipe for free and fair elections leading to stability. The manual provides a list of election benchmarks, both international and regional. It also gives guidelines on election observation and monitoring in the region.
The manual provides for impartial, all inclusive competent and accountable electoral institutions, staffed with well trained personnel and equipped with adequate logistics. It sets principles and conditions for electoral systems, election management bodies, voter registration, the registration of political parties, the nomination process and the campaign process.
It also provides guidelines for observation missions. The preliminary report of observers should be accurate, timely and impartial and communicated to the Election Monitoring Board within four hours after the end of the voting, it states.
The draft election observation manual will be shared with the EAC Department of Political Federation and other key election stakeholders in the region for further enrichment.
Resolution to Urge EAC Partner States to Fight FGM/C
In a motion moved by Hon. Dora C. Kanabahita Byamukama (Uganda), the Assembly resolved to urge EAC Partner States to take action against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) for non-medical reasons. The House noted that three countries in East Africa were most affected; Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Kenya scored the highest at 32.2 % (15-49 age group). The EALA Members noted that most countries had laws/policies against FGM/C but very few were willing to implement them due to lack of political will, meaning the laws and policies remain on paper.
Resolution to thank Hon. Monique Mukaruliza
Hon. Reuben Oyondi (Kenya) moved a motion to accord special thanks to Hon. Monique Mukaruliza for her exemplary performance as Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers. The motion further acknowledged Hon. Mukaruliza’s personal commitment to launch a number of major EAC projects during her tenure as Chairperson of Council namely; the EAC headquarters building which had previously stalled and construction of the Arusha-Namanga-Athi River Road.
The Assembly appreciated her role in the Common Market negotiations by inspiring Members of the High Level Task Force to move rapidly the negotiations of the Common market Protocol amidst her very strong expressions to finalise the Protocol as directed by the EAC Summit of Heads of State ready for signing in November 2009 and indeed achieving the set target of November 2009.
Service Commission Bill
The Assembly pursuant to the provisions of Article 59 (1) of the Treaty and Rule 64 of the Rule of Procedures of the EALA, granted leave to Hon. Abdullah Mwinyi (Tanzania), Chairperson of the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges to introduce a private member’s Bill entitled: The East African Community Service Commission Bill, 2010.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers and Minister of the East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Diodorus Kamala continued to respond to questions raised by Members on a broad spectrum of EAC integration issues.
Responding to Hon. Dan Kidega’s (Uganda) question on the what EAC was doing to mainstream the youth in the integration process, Hon. Kamala informed the august House that recommendations made by the 1st Meeting of the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Social Development held in Kigali, from 15 to 19 September, 2008, on issues pertaining to the youth and children were endorsed by the Council of Ministers at its 18th Meeting held on 4 September 2009. These issues had been incorporated in the implementation strategy for the EAC Gender and Community Development Framework which was finalised in October 2009.
The Minister informed the House that the main activities for youth development to be implemented by EAC Secretariat were in regard to; formulating a regional Youth and Children Policy; mobilising and sensitising youth on the opportunities for employment and wealth creation; developing guidelines to promote and adopt appropriate leisure activities and psychological services to the Youth and Children; and facilitating Private Sector in building capacity of Youth and Children in vocational skills, ICTs and other special tailored programmes.
Other activities include facilitating an Annual Youth Exhibition for SMEs; developing guidelines for promoting Science and Technology for the Youth and Children; developing guidelines and work plans for mainstreaming Youth and Children issues in all EAC sectors; facilitating the formation of Youth in Business associations and networks; developing guidelines on behavioural change in attitudes, morals and ethics; and facilitating the creation of Youth and Children’s regional parliament.
In terms of implementation of the planned activities, the Chairperson of the Council disclosed that the EAC Secretariat was willing to develop a partnership with Regional Youth Organizations. In that context, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Youth Trust for the formulation and implementation of a regional youth policy will be concluded soon.
The Minister also informed the House that the EAC Secretariat had concluded in January 2010, a three-year project entitled Invest in adolescents: Building Capacity in East Africa. The project was funded by the European Commission to the tune of 1.4 million euros.
Hon. Kamala said the main objective of the project was to enhance adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights and ultimately help in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
