Mbidde, Nakawuki elected EALA commissioners

Two of Uganda's representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Fred Mukasa Mbidde and Susan Nakawuki have been elected to the regional parliamentary commission.

The House yesterday approved by secret ballot the names of two commissioners each from the republics of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania in line with the provisions of section (3) (2) of the administration of the assembly Act, 2011 and rule 83 (1), (2) and (3) of the rules of procedure of the EAC. 

The motion to constitute the assembly was moved by Uganda's representative Chris Opoka-Okumu and those elected will sit on the EALA commission for two and a half years, according to information from Arusha.

Mbidde and Nakawuki each garnered 35 votes and this is their second term in the assembly. Each EAC member country sends nine representatives to EALA.

The election which took place at the EALA chambers was presided over by the clerk to the assembly, Kenneth Madete and there were no spoilt votes.

For Kenya, Muhia Wanjiku and Dr Oburu Oginga were elected while those for Rwanda were Dr Kalinda Xavier Kalinda and Gasinzigwa Oda.

From South Sudan, Dr Ann Itto Leonardo and Gabriel Garang Aher Arol will sit on the commission while those from are Nkuhi Fancy Haji and Yahya Mariam Ussi.

The nominees of the Republic of Burundi withdrew in writing to the Clerk, according to EALA publicist, Bobi Odiko adding that the chair of the EALA Chapter from Tanzania had similarly written to the Clerk requesting to withdraw the names. 

"However, in absence of the withdrawal by the nominees per se, the Speaker therefore ruled that the names be maintained in the list."

The EALA commission is a creation of the administration of the assembly Act 2011. The mandate of the commission among others is to manage the business and the programmes of the assembly, to nominate members of standing and other committees and to recommend to the council the appointment of the clerk and other officers of the assembly.