EAC budget speech to be read Thursday

THE East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers is expected to deliver EAC Budget Speech for the Financial Year 2017/18 Thursday. 

This will be during the last East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) sitting in Arusha, Tanzania, which started on May 22 (Monday) and ends June 1, 2017.

The budget speech will be delivered by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, according to communication from Arusha.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Daniel Kidega, shall preside over the Sitting, which is the last Sitting for the 3rd Assembly, whose life and tenure ends on June 4, 2017.

Last Year in June, EALA debated and passed the 2016/17 Budget totaling $101,374,589. The 2016/2017 Budget themed Towards Full Implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol and Enhancing the Implementation of the Monetary Union Protocol was a drop down from USD $110,660,098 presented to the House in the previous Financial Year.

It prioritized on the full implementation of the EAC Single Customs Territory, enhanced implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol and interconnectivity of border immigration systems.

Other issues to be deliberated on at this Sitting include the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill, 2016 and the EAC Polythene and Materials Control Bill, 2016.

The EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Bill, 2016 anticipates provision of legal framework for matters relating to sexual and reproductive health, to protect children, adolescents and young children from sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation.

The EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016 aims at providing a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment through the prohibition of manufacturing, sale, importation and use of polythene materials. The Bill was re-introduced during the Sitting held in August 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Session marks the end of the 3rd Assembly with a new Assembly expected to be sworn in on June 4th, 2017.

EALA is the regional Legislative Assembly of the East African Community. Under Chapter 9 of the Treaty, EALA is mandated with core functions of Legislation, approval of the EAC budget, Representation and Oversight.





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