By Brian Mayanja

One of Uganda’s representatives to East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Fred Mukasa Mbidde, has been appointed head sub committee on legal, rules and privileges.

During a six-day meeting that was held in Nairobi, EALA members unanimously agreed that Mbidde should lead a group of lawyers to handle legal issues. They had convened in Nairobi to review Kenyan laws.

The meeting was in relation to compliance with article (D) of the East African Community treaty on governance, rule of law, gender and social justice, according to Mbidde. 

After appointment, Mbidde said his main task would also be to agitate for amendments of some laws in Uganda’s constitution.

“MPs from other East African countries look at Uganda as a threat to integration. They think Uganda may impose dictatorship in the region,” Mbidde told the New Vision.

Mbidde, who went to the EALA on a Democratic Party (DP) ticket, said article 126 of the East African Constitution requires all the member countries to harmonise their laws.

“Kenya has obtained over 50% of the compliance. We have agreed with Kenyan Parliament to enact amendment of the current electoral laws. We also agreed that in the next Parliament, one third of the seats should be for women,” he said.

EALA is an independent legislative assembly of the EAC. Each country has eleven members, nine elected MPs and two appointed as ministers’ in-charge of EAC affairs in their mother countries. 

They also sit in Parliament as ex-officio members but do not vote.  Uganda’s Margaret Zziwa is the current Speaker.