Defiant Great Lakes states to face tough sanctions, FP-ICGLR

KAMPALA - The Forum of Parliaments of member states of the International Conference of Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) has proposed strong sanctions against member states that default to clear arrears of annual contribution.

This follows reports that some member states have failed to pay arrears while others have failed to pay their annual contribution for financing the forum.

The former MP for Buikwe North Onyango Kakoba who is also the Secretary-General (SG) of (FP-ICGLR) based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo( DRC) is holding a regional meeting at Speke Resort Munyonyo in  Kampala to resolve the problem.

The member states are Angola, Central African Republic (CAR), Congo Brazaville, DRC, Zambia, Sudan, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda.


"If the proposed sanctions are adopted, Parliaments of the Member States whose contribution is in arrears should not have voting rights," said Onyango.

Onyango who chaired the Ad hoc finance committee of FP-ICGLR on Friday and other member states are apparently attending a four-day meeting at Speke Resort Munyonyo Kampala Uganda to devise means of financing the (FP-ICGLR) activities.

He said, "members whose contribution is in arrears should not provide candidates for an international position in the secretariat."

The forum also proposed that no arrears should exceed two years, stressing that the secretary-general should make arrangements with individual Parliament member states to clear their arrears.

Onyango said annual contribution is based on each country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) defined as a monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country in a specific period.

"Member states total budget for the financial year 2019/2020 is the US $ 1,322,702.00m (about sh49.5b), however, due to the above arrangement, countries with better economies  bear the weight, of the budget, some  contribute minimal percentages, while others delay paying, which affects the activities of the forum," he said.

Onyango declined to disclose Parliament member states who have not cleared their dues.

According to documents, Kenya has the highest GDP share of 18% and is expected to pay $ 235,257 (about sh879m), while Burundi with the lowest GDP share of 2% and is expected to pay $26,433 (about sh98m).

Uganda is ranked number four amongst the high GDP share and is expected to pay $ 140,097 (about sh523m).