Arusha, Tanzania — July 12, 2025 — The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) concluded its virtual plenary session today. During its sitting, the Assembly debated and approved the East African Community Budget for the fiscal year 2025/2026, amounting to One Hundred Nine Million, Forty-Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty-One United States Dollars only (USD 109,047,861).
The Assembly also passed the Supplementary Budget for the Financial Year 2024/2025; The EAC Supplementary Appropriation (No.1) of 2025, and The EAC Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) of 2025. The Assembly debated several Committee reports, adopted resolutions and passed several Bills and Motions including: The report of the Committee on Accounts on the audited accounts for the financial year ended 30th June, 2022; The Reports of the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution on the assessment of the performance and functioning of the Regional Police Centers of Excellence; And Security Agencies Cooperation in tackling cross-border crime within the EAC region (as amended); The report on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution on the implementation of EAC Security and Foreign Policies; The Report of the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges on the East African Community Payment and Settlement systems Integration and The Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources on Agro-Ecology within the EAC region.
The Assembly also adopted several resolutions, including: the resolution to honor the outgoing five Senior Professional staff of the East African Legislative Assembly and other organs and Institutions of EAC for their diligent services to the community, and urged the EAC Council of Ministers to scrap the term limits required of professional staff at EAC.
However, Several other reports were deferred pending a meeting with Chair Council EAC Council of Ministers including: The Report of the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment on the Reconsideration of the East African Community Statistics Bureau Bill, 2018; The Report of the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment on the Reconsideration of the East African Community Standardization, Accreditation and Conformity Assessment Bill, 2023; and The report of the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges on the investigation of allegation levelled against the immediate former secretary general was subsequently deferred for further consultations.
The Assembly also debated and passed several motions, including the Motion urging the EAC Council of Ministers and Partner States to promote Agro-Ecology to strengthen food Sovereignty and food security, and also passed the East African Community Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation Bill, 2025.
However, the motion of the Assembly urging the Council of Ministers to renew and extend the contracts for short-term staff to facilitate continued operations of the organs and Institutions of the community, moved under Articles 45(1), 49(2)(d) and (f), 59(1) and 70 of the Treaty and Rule 26 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly by Hon. Siranda Gerald Blacks, from the Republic of Uganda, did not go through due to lack of Quorum. The Republic of Kenya could not attain the three (3) required numbers for the quorum even after three attempts. Kenya managed to field only two of the required minimum of three members to make a quorum. Thus, the matter was deferred to a later sitting.
The motion for a resolution of the Assembly to establish the membership of the EALA Standing Committees was moved by Hon. Amb. Fatuma Ndangiza of the Republic of Rwanda, under Article 49, 59(1) and Rules 26,79,80 and 83 (5) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly as follows:
A. New Chairpersons of EALA Standing Committees are as follows:
1. The Committee on Accounts: The Hon. Veronica Kadogo of the Republic of Uganda was duly elected as the new Chair of the Accounts Committee, replacing Hon. Mundela Mbombo Joseph of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2. The Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges: Hon. Kalala Kwete Evariste of the Democratic Republic of Congo was duly elected, replacing Hon. Mashaka Ngole of the United Republic of Tanzania
3. The Committee on Communications, Trade and Investment: The Hon.Francine Rutazana of the Republic of Rwanda was duly elected, replacing Hon. (Dr.) Shahbal Suleiman Said from the Republic of Kenya
4. The Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources: The Hon. Gideon Gatpan Thoar from the Republic of South Sudan was duly elected as the new Chair, replacing Hon.Uwumukiza Francoise from the Republic of Rwanda
5. The Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution: Hon. Maina Karobia of the Republic of Kenya was duly elected, replacing Hon. Dr. Gerald Siranda Blacks of the Republic of Uganda.
6. The Committee on General Purpose: The Hon. (Dr.) Abdullah Makame Hasnuu, of the United Republic of Tanzania, was duly elected, replacing Hon. Mukulia Kennedy Ayason of the Republic of South Sudan.
B. New Members of the EALA Commission are as follows: Two members drawn from each Partner State as follows:
1. The Republic of Rwanda
. Hon. Amb. Fatuma Ndnagiza
. Hon. Clément Musangabatware
2. The Republic of Burundi
. Hon. Saidi Kibeya
. Hon. Karerwa Mo-Mamo
3. Democratic Republic of the Congo
. Hon. Ngate Mangu Francois
. Hon. Kaubo Kalwa Geraldine
4. Republic of South Sudan
. Hon. Sadia James Sebit
. Hon. Dr. Woda Jeremiah
5. The Republic of Kenya
. Hon. Iman Falhada Dekow
. Hon. Kalonzo Kennedy Musyoka
6. The United Republic of Tanzania
. Hon. Mashaka Khalfani Ngole
. Hon. Mohamed Nadra Juma
7. The Republic of Uganda
. Hon. Musamali Paul Mwasa
. Hon. Kakooza James
Note: The new Chairpersons of the Committees and Members of the Commission will serve for the remaining two and a half (2.5) Years. The members congratulated the new chairpersons of the standing committees and also the new members of the EALA Commission and urged them to serve the community with diligence. In his concluding remarks, the Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, Speaker of EALA, commended the members for approving the EAC budget for the FY2025/2026 under a challenging environment brought about by the use of Virtual plenary and urge that “We hope that all stakeholders have understood this challenge and we won’t have to use it repeatedly-except for special sittings”. The Speaker adjourned the House sine Die (With no appointed dates for resumption).
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For further information, please contact:
Nicodemus Ajak Bior
Senior Public Relations Officer (SPRO)
East African Legislative Assembly
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-768-885-633 / +254-729-157-207
Email: nbior@eachq.org
www.eala.org
