East African Legislative Assembly

East African Legislative Assembly Swahili: Bunge la Afrika Mashariki
History
Founded	30 November 2001
Leadership
Speaker	Joseph Ntakirutimana
Structure
Seats	62 (56 elected members, 8 ex-officio members)
Political groups	Independents: 50 seats   Jubilee Party: 5 seats   National Super Alliance: 4 seats   Rwandan Patriotic Front: 1 seat   Vacant: 2 seats
Meeting place
Arusha, Tanzania
Website
www.eala.org

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is a sub-organ of the larger East African Community, being the legislative arm of the Community. Members are sworn into five-year terms.

History

Since colonial times, a number of organizations have sought to integrate the region of East Africa. During the Victorian Era, rail links were established, and a number of regional organizations, such as the East African Currency Board and the East African Court of Appeal were established. A new wave of agreements and organizations were launched during the mid-20th century.

The Treaty for East African Co-operation was signed in 1967, launching the East African Community. However, due to political differences and weak participation, the treaty was nullified in 1977, ending the East African Community.

Despite this, interest in further regional cooperation continued. On 14 May 1984, the East African Community Mediation Agreement was signed, which pledged to "explore and identify areas for future co-operation and to make arrangements for such co-operation". On 26 November 1994, representatives from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania signed the Agreement for the Establishment of a Permanent Tripartite Commission, which established a commission to further cooperation among the three countries. On 29 April 1999, the Tripartite Commission completed its analysis on the prospects of regional cooperation, and the three countries signed an agreement to upgrade the Agreement to a treaty for 2000.

First Assembly (2001-2006)

The East African Legislative Assembly was inaugurated on 30 November 2001 as the legislative arm of the newly revived East African Community. The Assembly met in Arusha, Tanzania, where the Tripartite Commission announced it would upgrade to a treaty. Abdulrahman Kinana, an Elected Member from Tanzania was unanimous elected the Speaker of the First Assembly. The First Assembly met until 2006.

Second Assembly (2007-2012)

On 1 July 2007, Burundi and Rwanda joined the East African Community, and, therefore, the East Africa Legislative Assembly. Abdirahim Abdi of Kenya served the Speaker of the Second Assembly.

  Chama Cha Mapinduzi: 7 seats

  CNDD-FDD: 4 seats

  KANU: 2 seats

  CNDD: 1 seat

  FORD Kenya: 1 seat

  FORD People's Party: 1 seat

  MRC: 1 seat

  United Democratic Party: 1 seat

  UPRONA: 1 seat

  independents: 23 seats

  CUD: 3 seats

The elected members of the second EALA (2007–12) break down by political party as follows:

Political party	Burundi	Kenya	Rwanda	South Sudan	Tanzania	Uganda	TOTAL
Independents or unspecified		5	9	N/A		9	23
Chama Cha Mapinduzi				N/A	7		7
CNDD-FDD	4			N/A			4
KANU		2		N/A			2
CNDD	1			N/A			1
FORD Kenya		1		N/A			1
FORD People's Party		1		N/A			1
MRC	1			N/A			1
United Democratic Party				N/A	1		1
UPRONA	1			N/A			1
Chama cha Umma Demokrati			1	N/A	1	1	3
Totals	9	9	8	N/A	9	8	45

Elected Members of the East African Legislative Assembly

Name	Country	Political Party
Abdirahim Haithar Haji Abdi	Kenya
Catherine N Kimura	Kenya
Christopher Dove Nakuleu	Kenya
Gervase Mathias Buluma Kafwa Akhaabi	Kenya
Clarkson Otieno Karan	Kenya
Sarah Talaso Bonaya	Kenya
Augustine Loile Chemonges Lotodo	Kenya
Reuben Oyondi Oyondi	Kenya
Safina Kwekwe Tsungu	Kenya
George Francis Nangale	Tanzania
Abdullah Ali Hassan Mwinyi	Tanzania
Kate Sylivia / Magdalena Kamba	Tanzania
Walid Aman Kabourou	Tanzania
Fortunatus Lwanyantika Masha	Tanzania
Didas John Massaburi	Tanzania
Said Gharib Bilal	Tanzania
Sebtuu Mohamed Nassor	Tanzania
Janet Deo Mmari	Tanzania
Mike Sebalu	Uganda
Lydia Wanyoto Wanyoto	Uganda
Dora Kanabahita Byamukama	Uganda
Daniel Fred Kidega	Uganda
Bernard Mulengani	Uganda
Mugisha Oyera Muntu	Uganda
Dan Wandera Ogalo	Uganda
Nusura Tiperu Omar	Uganda
	Uganda
Francois Bizimana	Burundi
Regine Katabarumwe	Burundi
Leonce Ndarubagiye	Burundi
Frederic Ngenzebuhoro	Burundi
Georgette Nibitanga	Burundi
Nzobonimpa Manasse	Burundi
	Burundi
	Burundi
	Burundi
Abdul Karim Harerimana	Rwanda	Rwandan Patriotic Front
James Ndahiro	Rwanda	representative for the disabled
Odette Nyiramirimo	Rwanda	representative for civil society
Pierre Damian Habumuremyi	Rwanda	Rwandan Patriotic Front
Claire Kayirangwa	Rwanda	Rwandan Patriotic Front
Patricia Hajabakiga	Rwanda	Rwandan Patriotic Front
Jacqueline Muhongayire	Rwanda	Social Democratic Party
Straton Ndikuryayo	Rwanda	representative for youth
Valerie Nyirahabineza	Rwanda	representative for women

Third Assembly (2012-2017)

Margaret Zziwa of Uganda served as the speaker from 2012 to 2014. She was the first woman to head the regional assembly and defeated her only rival Dora Byamukama 27 votes to 18 in the first round and 33 votes to 12 in the runoff. She was succeeded by Daniel Kidega, who served from 2014 until the end of the Third Assembly in 2017.

Elected Members of the East African Legislative Assembly

Name	Country	Political Party
Margaret Zziwa	Uganda
Dora Byamukama	Uganda
Dan Kidega	Uganda
Fred Mbidde Mukasa	Uganda
Bernard Mulengani	Uganda
Susan Nakawuki	Uganda
Chris Opoka-Okumu	Uganda
Mike Sebalu	Uganda
Nusura Tiperu	Uganda
Nancy Abisai	Kenya
Abubakar Zein Abubakar	Kenya
Sarah Bonaya	Kenya
Peter Mathuki	Kenya
Mumbi Ngaru	Kenya
Saole Ole Nkanae	Kenya
Abubakar Ogle	Kenya
Joseph Kiangoi	Kenya
Judith Pareno	Kenya
Shy-Rose Bhanji	Tanzania
Adam Kimbisa	Tanzania
Angela Kizigha	Tanzania
Bernard Murunya	Tanzania
Abdullah Mwinyi	Tanzania
Perprtua Nderakindo	Tanzania
Makongoro Nyerere	Tanzania
Issa Taslima	Tanzania
Mariam Ussi Yahya	Tanzania
Emerence Bucumi	Burundi
Hafsa Mossi	Burundi
Isabelle Ndahayo	Burundi
Leonce Ndarubagiye	Burundi
Martin Nduwimana	Burundi
Emmanuel Nengo	Burundi
Jeremie Ngendakumana	Burundi
Frederic Ngenzebuhoro	Burundi
Yves Nsabimana	Burundi
Christophe Bazivamo	Rwanda
Patricia Hajabakiga	Rwanda
Abdulkarim Harelimana	Rwanda
Jacqueline Muhongayire	Rwanda
James Ndahiro	Rwanda
Straton Ndikuryayo	Rwanda
Valerie Nyirahabineza	Rwanda
Odette Nyiramilimo	Rwanda
Pierre Celesitin Rwigema	Rwanda

Fourth Assembly (2017-2022)

The Fourth Assembly has a total of 62 members, of which each member state submits 9 elected members, and 8 ex-officio members. Its speaker is Martin Ngoga of Rwanda.

The following table lists the elected members of the Fourth Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly:

Elected Members of the East African Legislative Assembly

Name	Country	Political Party
Mnyaa Habib Mohamed	Tanzania
Nkuhi Fancy Haji	Tanzania
Maryam Ussi Yahya	Tanzania
Kimbisa Adam Omar	Tanzania
Hasnuu Makame Abullah	Tanzania
Lugiko Happyness Elias	Tanzania
Maghembe Ngwaru	Tanzania
Maasay Pamela Simon	Tanzania
Josephine Sebastian Lemoyan	Tanzania
Thoar Gatpan Gideon	South Sudan
Jago Odok Woda Jeremiah	South Sudan
Ann Itto Leonardo	South Sudan
Gabriel Garang Aher Arol	South Sudan
Kim Gai Ruot Duop	South Sudan
Deng Dut Gatkek Thomas	South Sudan
Gabriel Alaak Garang Diing	South Sudan
Deng Nhial Gai	South Sudan
Ayason Mukulia Kennedy	South Sudan
Christopher Opoka-Okumu	Uganda
Susan Nakawuki	Uganda
Fred Mukasa Mbidde	Uganda
George Stephen Odongo	Uganda
Dennis Namara	Uganda
Musamali Paul Mwasa	Uganda
Kasamba Mathias	Uganda
Rose Akol Okullu	Uganda
Mary Mugyenyi	Uganda
Flowrence Jematiah Sergon	Kenya	Jubilee Party
Oburu Odinga	Kenya	National Super Alliance
Noor Mohamed Adan	Kenya	Jubilee Party
Wanjiku Muhia	Kenya	Jubilee Party
Simon Mbugua Nganga	Kenya	Jubilee Party
Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo	Kenya	National Super Alliance
Fatuma Ibrahim Ali	Kenya	National Super Alliance
Aden Omar Abdikadir	Kenya	National Super Alliance
Aburi Mpuru Lawrence	Kenya	Jubilee Party
Pierre-Célestin Rwigema	Rwanda
Kalinda Francois Xavier	Rwanda
Martin Ngoga	Rwanda	Rwandan Patriotic Front
Jean Claude Barimuyabo	Rwanda
Alex Bahati	Rwanda
Francoise Uwumukiza	Rwanda
Francine Rutazana	Rwanda
Fatuma Ndangiza	Rwanda
Oda Gasinzigwa	Rwanda
Léontine Nzeyimana	Burundi
Marie Claire Barikukiye	Burundi
Sophie Nsavyimana	Burundi
Alfred Ahingejeje	Burundi
Mo-Mamo Karerwa	Burundi
Jean-Marie Muhirwa	Burundi
Pierre Claver Rurakamvye	Burundi
Victor Burikukiye	Burundi
Christopher Nduwayo	Burundi

The following table lists the ex-officio members of the Fourth Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly:

Ex-Officio Members of the East African Legislative Assembly

Name	Country	Political Party
Isabelle Ndahayo	Burundi
Francois Kalinda	Rwanda
Pierre-Célestin Rwigema	Rwanda
Maryam Ussi Yahya	Tanzania
Fred Mukasa Mbidde	Uganda
Susan Nakawuki	Uganda
Vacant
Vacant

Fifth Assembly (2022-2027)

The Fifth Assembly was inaugurated on 19 December 2022, which included for the first time 9 members from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which had joined the EALA in March of that year. Joseph Ntakarutimana of Burundi was elected as speaker of the 63-member parliamentary body. In addition to the elected members, the fifth parliament included nine ex-officio members – one from each member nation, the secretary general, and the counsel – who serve as ministers of the East African Community Affairs. The following table lists the elected members of the Fifth Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly:

Elected Members of the East African Legislative Assembly

Name	Country	Political Party
Jacqueline Amongin	Uganda
Gerald Blacks Siranda	Uganda
Veronica Kadogo	Uganda
James Kakooza	Uganda
Paul Mwasa Musamali	Uganda
George Stephen Odongo	Uganda
Dennis Namara	Uganda
Mary Mugyenyi	Uganda
Rose Akol Okullu	Uganda
Mohame Juma Nadra	Tanzania
Shogo Richard Mlozi	Tanzania
James Kinyasi Millya	Tanzania
Mashaka Khalfan Ngole	Tanzania
Abdulla Hasnuu Makame	Tanzania
Maghembe Jumanne Ng'waru	Tanzania
Machano Ali Machano	Tanzania
Angela Charles Kizigha	Tanzania
Ansar Kachwamba	Tanzania
Gabriel Garang Aher Arol	South Sudan
Thomson Luke Teny	South Sudan
Sadia James Sebit	South Sudan
Deng Gai	South Sudan
Gai Rut Kim	South Sudan
Kennedy Aysason Mukulia	South Sudan
Woda Jeremiah Odok Jago	South Sudan
Ann Itto Leonardo	South Sudan
Gideon Gatpa Thoar	South Sudan
Alex Bahati	Rwanda
Françoise Uwumukiza	Rwanda
Clément Musangabatware	Rwanda
Francine Rutazana	Rwanda
Aisha Nyiramana	Rwanda
Mathias Harabemungu	Rwanda
Alodie Iradukunda	Rwanda
Caroline Rwivanga Kayonga	Rwanda
Fatuma Ndangiza	Rwanda
Suleiman Said Shahbal	Kenya
David Ole Sankok	Kenya
Winnie Odinga	Kenya
Maina Godfrey Mwangi	Kenya
Zipporah Kering Kurga	Kenya
James Mathenge Kanini	Kenya
Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo	Kenya
Falhada Dekow Iman	Kenya
Hassan Omar Hassan	Kenya
François Mangu Ngate	Democratic Republic of Congo
Stella Nyota Mwetaminwa	Democratic Republic of Congo
Joseph Mbombo Mundela	Democratic Republic of Congo
Jérémie Ilenda Maswama	Democratic Republic of Congo
Dorothé Nganiza Masirika	Democratic Republic of Congo
Géraldine Kalwa Kaubo	Democratic Republic of Congo
Evariste Kwete Kalala	Democratic Republic of Congo
Jean-Bertrand Ewanga	Democratic Republic of Congo
Désiré Ipenda Boulu	Democratic Republic of Congo
Olivier Nkurunziza	Burundi
Anastase Manirambona	Burundi
Saidi Kibeya	Burundi
Cathy Kezimana	Burundi
Mo-Mamo Karerwa	Burundi
Victor Burikukiye	Burundi
Goreth Bigirimana	Burundi
Gabriel Ntisezerana	Burundi
Joseph Ntakirutimana	Burundi

Composition

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete addressing the Assembly

As of the Fourth Assembly, the East African Legislative Assembly has 62 members, of which each member state submits 9 elected members, and 8 ex-officio members.

According to Article 50 of the East African Community Treaty, members are elected by their respective country's national legislature. Article 50 also calls upon said members to reflect their country's political parties, opinions, gender composition, and other special groups.

The ex-officio members of the Assembly are to be each member state's minister for regional cooperation, the Secretary General of the East African Community, and the Counsel to the Community.

Functions

Article 49 of the East African Community Treaty stipulates that the responsibilities of the East African Legislative Assembly are to "be the legislative organ of the Community", "liaise with the National Assemblies of the Partner States on matters relating to the Community", "debate and approve the budget of the Community", "consider annual reports on the activities of the Community, annual audit reports of the Audit Commission and any other reports referred to it by the Council", "discuss all matters pertaining to the Community and make recommendations to the Council as it may deem necessary for the implementation of the Treaty", "establish any committee or committees for such purposes as it deems necessary", "recommend to the Council the appointment of the Clerk and other officers of the Assembly", and "make its rules of procedure and those of its committees".

Committees

As Article 49 of the East African Community Treaty outlines, the East African Legislative Assembly has the right to "establish any committee or committees for such purposes as it deems necessary". As of 2020, the Assembly has the following seven committees:

• The Commission Committee
• The Accounts Committee
• The Committee on Legal, Rules, and Privileges
• The Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources
• The Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution
• The Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment
• The Committee on General Purpose

Activities since inauguration

Since its inauguration, EALA has held several sittings as a Plenary in Arusha, Kampala and Nairobi. During these sittings, EALA has:

• adopted its rules of procedure;
• elected the Speaker of the Assembly;
• recommended to the Council of Ministers the appointment of the Officers of the Assembly;
• approved the budgets for the EAC for the 2002-3 and 2003-4 fiscal years;
• asked the Council of Ministers 19 questions, which were duly answered;
• adopted five resolutions;
• held seminars on a wide range of issues in relation to their mandate; and
• passed six bills into law.

The Committees have continuously got briefs from the Secretariat and given advice with regard to progress in the implementation of the Treaty.

Impact

One 2015 paper suggested that the structure of the East African Community Treaty created the East African Community in a way that the East African Legislative Assembly often butted heads with the East African Community Council of Ministers, which harmed the efficacy of the Assembly.