The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) yesterday passed a Bill granting the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat permission to spend an additional $2,143,960 for the financial year 2013/14 to meet its programmes.

Defending the supplementary budget on Wednesday, Uganda’s Minister of State for EAC Affairs Shem Bageine, said the supplementary budget will prioritise three main areas.

According to a breakdown, $1,142,763 will be allocated to activities to enhance agriculture, trade and customs, $494, 700 will be allocated to EAC-World Bank Public Financial Management Harmonisation Project, while $506, 497 will be spent on strengthening the East and Southern Africa-India Ocean (ESA-IO) Maritime Security Project.

Pierre Celestin Rwigema, an EALA member from Rwanda encouraged the EAC Secretariat to look inwards for additional funding.  

"The budget only provides for conferences for people with disabilities, youth and women in business. There are various other groups that need to be considered as well,” Peter Mathuki, another EALA legislator said.

Bernard Mulengani, from Uganda, said the assembly had not received a report on the previous budget.

He said there was need for the EAC to have more programmes and fewer consultancies and workshops.