EALA sits in Dodoma starting today

PIC: EALA speaker Martin Ngoga

EALA | MEETING

The East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) has commenced its sitting in Dodoma, Tanzania, where it will deliberate on key Bills regarding the Monetary Union Protocol.

This is the first time the regional Assembly, which embraces a rotational principle in holding its meetings in the Partner States, is sitting in Dodoma.

The sitting, which is the fourth meeting of the first Session of the fourth Assembly, takes place from today up to April 28.

The Assembly is to be presided over by the speaker, Martin Ngoga. Tanzanian President Dr John Pombe Magufuli is expected to address the Assembly at a special sitting at a date to be communicated next week, according to information availed by EALA.

The Assembly shall also deliberate on a number of key issues over the three-week period. Bills and resolutions are expected to be brought before the plenary. A number of committee undertakings are also expected, particularly on scrutiny of Bills in preparation for the forthcoming public hearings.

Currently, there are two key Bills that are pertinent to the Monetary Union Protocol. These are the EAC Monetary Institute Bill, 2017 and the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017. Thety were introduced by the chair of the council of ministers, Dr Ali Kirunda Kivenjija at the 2nd meeting of the 1st session held in Kampala, Uganda, in January 2018 and sailed through the First Reading.

The object of the EAC Monetary Institute Bill, 2017, is to provide for the establishment of the East African Monetary Institute as an institution of the community responsible for preparatory work for the EAC Monetary Union.

In accordance with Article 23 of the Protocol on the EAC Monetary Union, the Bill is expected to provide for the functions, governance and funding for the Institute as well as other related matters.

Closely related to the EAMI Bill is the EAC statistics Bureau Bill, 2017. The Bill seeks to establish the Statistics Bureau as an institution of the community under Article 9 of the Treaty and Article 21 of the Protocol on Establishment of the EAC Monetary Union. 

The Bill provides for the functions, powers, governance and its funding with a view to establish an institution responsible for statistics in a bid to support the East African Monetary Union.

The Council of Ministers for EAC is expected to meet with the committees to thrash out key matters on both Bills. The EALA committee on communications, Trade and Investment shall at a later date engage with stakeholders on the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017. The EAC Monetary Institute Bill, 2017 will be handled by the General Purpose Committee.

Furthermore, the Assembly will also interact with various stakeholders and other citizens in Dodoma in a move anticipated to collect views to effectively undertake its mandate and enhance its representation mandate.