The Third Meeting, Third Session of the Second East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) kicked of officially on Tuesday, 9 February 2010, at the Parliament Chambers of the National Assembly of Uganda with a call by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to have the integration process fast tracked towards a Political Federation terming it as the “insurance Policy” for the People of East African.
Speaking during the official opening of the EALA meeting, President Museveni said that the East African States needed to put more resources into developing their infrastructure, which is the core foundation to development in the region. The President noted that domestic energy consumption levels experienced in East Africa were still on the lower side due to underdevelopment as compared to the that of the developed countries and that it would take East Africa more than 15 years to reach similar current consumption levels experienced by west.
The President emphasized on the need for good transport system in Africa saying that East Africa has the potential and ability to develop its transport system” if the British used rudimentary technology and non skilled man power to build the railway we currently have, why then cant we then use the heavy modern machinery we posses at present here in East Africa to do even better?.” It is on the same note that the President informed the EALA that he had instructed the Uganda Army Engineering Brigade to participate actively in the construction of the Uganda Railway and that he hoped that other EAC Partner States shall follow Suit.
In his welcoming Speech, the Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi hailed President Museveni and his counterparts on the signing of the EAC Common Market Protocol and for his efforts towards the revival of the East African Community (EAC). ”Your Excellency…not only did you play an active role in the revival of the East African Community as one of the Pioneer leader, but also you have continued to play a pivotal role in its development.
At the time of the Tripartite Commission, you envisioned that what East Africa needed was to reinforce closer ties amongst the countries as was previously, the case with the old Community because you believed that the United East Africa would create better opportunities for its citizens. This has come to pass and we can now see all those advantage as more and more countries yearn to join the EAC” noted Hon. Abdi. It is in this context that the Speaker of EALA pledged to have the August House support the EAC Organs and its Institutions efforts in the integration process until the full dream of a United East Africa is achieved.
Earlier on, Hon Abdallah Mwinyi, Chaiperson, Committee on legal, Rules and Privileges moved a motion in pursuant to the provisions of Article 55(1) of the treaty and Rule 11 of the Rules of Procedure to have the House resolve and hold the its sitting in the Republic of Uganda. Hon. Karan Otieno of the EALA who gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the EALA Members, hailed President Museveni for his support to the EAC while emphasizing that the East African Citizens stood to benefit from the Common Market.
Also present during the meeting were the Speaker of the Uganda National Legislative Assembly Rt. Hon Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka, Deputy Speaker Uganda Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, EALA Members, Uganda Members of Parliament and Members of the Diplomatic Corps.
