ARUSHA, TANZANIA —July 3, 2025- This afternoon, during a virtual plenary session chaired by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, and attended by Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, Chair of the East African Community Council of Ministers, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) unanimously adopted a resolution honoring five outgoing senior staff members of EALA and EAC for their exceptional contributions to the East African Community. The motion, proposed by Hon. Dr. Abdullah Hasnuu Makame of Tanzania and seconded by Hon. Gai Rout Kim Duop of South Sudan, commended the officers’ dedication despite ongoing staffing challenges and acknowledged their vital roles in advancing EALA’s legislative mandate.
The resolution commended Mr. Charles Ngeleja Kadonya, Principal Clerk Assistant since 2015 and Acting Clerk from 2019–2021, for his 19 years of service. Mr. Kadonya oversaw legislative, procedures, and committee services while managing the Regional Affairs, Conflict Resolution, Legal, Rules, and Privileges Committees. Mr. Alfred Tugume, Senior Clerk Assistant and Acting Deputy Clerk (2019–2021), was honored for his decade of service leading the Committee on Communications, Trade, and Investment (CTI) and the General-Purpose Committee.
Mr. Asheri Michael Wimile, Senior Clerk Assistant for 10 years, managed the Legal, Rules, and Privileges Committee alongside Agriculture, Tourism, and Natural Resources. Mr. Ezekiel Nyakwara Migosi, deputy and later Serjeant-at-Arms for a cumulative 23 years, ensured operational continuity by heading procurement, transport, and logistics. Ms. Anastacia Mbeba, Hansard Reporter and department head for 10 years, modernized parliamentary record-keeping to support transparency. The Assembly also expressed its gratitude to Hon. Dr. Anthony L. Kafume, the Counsel to the East African Community and an Ex-Officio member of the Assembly for his excellent service to the Community. As his term approaches its conclusion in August 2025, the Assembly commended him for his outstanding service and extended its best wishes for success in his next endeavors.
The Assembly commended the officers for their resilience in taking on additional responsibilities amidst ongoing staffing shortages, which enabled the uninterrupted functioning of committees and plenary sessions. Their expertise provided critical technical support to the Speaker, Members, and the EALA Commission. During the session, Hon. Makame highlighted their contributions, stating, "These officers have guided the Assembly through complex challenges with unwavering commitment. Their legacy is etched in the strengthened institutions of regional integration."
The members also expressed their individual gratitude and wished the outgoing staff the best of luck in their future endeavors. However, Hon. Kennedy Ayason raised a concern regarding the employment terms of professional staff, questioning why they are often given terminal contracts. He emphasized that professional staff should be allowed to continue serving the community beyond these contracts in order to preserve institutional memory, especially considering the significant investments the Community makes in their training. He noted that such a practice is common in other regional blocs and institutions across the continent and beyond. This proposal received unanimous support from the Assembly members. The Motion was amended to include this request.
This came two days after EALA organized a farewell event for all the staff in Moshi to honor the outgoing staff. The event was graced by the Rt. Hon. Speaker of EALA. During the ceremony, they were recognized for their long-standing service and were presented with certificates of recognition and appreciation of their contributions to the community.
The motion to honor the staff for their service is grounded in Articles 49 and 59(1) of the EAC Treaty and Rule 26 of EALA’s Rules of Procedure, that reaffirms the Assembly’s oversight mandate. The resolution directs the EAC Council of Ministers to formally archive the commendation, and urged that the recruitment for the vacant positions commence immediately to avoid paralysis in the Assembly operations.
The Speaker adjourned the sitting to Monday 9th July 2025 at 2.30pm to consider and approve the East African Community Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2025/2026.
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/ Kwachwuou@gmail.com
