The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) began its session in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday, with a news conference that was largely dominated by queries on why the lawmakers should be given luxurious vehicles.

Two new pieces of legislation initiated by a Rwandan lawmaker MP Dr James Ndahiro; the EAC Electronic Transaction Bill, 2014, and the EAC Creative Industries Bill, 2015, are expected to be passed in the course of the session to last about two weeks.

However, at the briefing, journalists dwelt so much on why the lawmakers are demanding posh vehicles, from the already constrained East African Community (EAC) budget.

EALA members in May this year approved the $111 million EAC budget estimates for the 2015/16 financial year, demanding that part of it be spent on providing them with luxurious SUVs just like their counterparts in respective national nssemblies.

To secure the said budget, EALA also passed the EAC Appropriation Bill 2015. The objective of the bill is to make provision for the appropriation out of the budget for the specified amount of money for the services and purposes of the Community for the financial year ending June 30, 2016.

 "As passed and debated in the budget line, this means that money needed for transport facilitation for members will be raised from expenses that we have been incurring like money spent on per diems  and funds usually spent on hiring of cars during EALA sessions,” said lawmaker Christopher Bazivamo from Rwanda. 

Currently, the assembly has 45 elected members from the five member states and seven ex-officio members.

Sources within EALA intimated that the lawmakers demanded 50,000 US dollars each in transport facilitation from the budget.

It was still not clear whether the money would be given to them in form of cash or vehicles will be procured for them and shall remain as Community property after their terms have ended.

"It has been a practice around national assemblies where lawmakers ask for hefty amounts of money in the name of transport facilitation only to receive the money and procure second hand Japanese cars. I hope EALA members don’t fall in the same trap,” said Joseph Musonge, an analyst on regional matters.

 EALA Speaker Dan Kidega told reporters that the lawmakers are still heavily constrained in terms of reaching their constituents to make them aware of the EAC integration process.

"The Assembly is very much on track, united and working towards the contractual obligations we have with the citizens of East Africa,” Kidega said.

EAC Creative Industries Bill

Speaking to The New Times in Kampala, Rwandan EALA member Martin Ngoga applauded the EAC Creative Industries Bill, 2015, saying it will help unleash many talents of artisans in the region.

"The talented will benefit from their talents and this will inspire many others,” he said.

Uganda’s Mike Sebalu was upbeat that the EAC Electronic Transaction Bill, 2014 will enable East Africans benefit from the digital era.

During the session, the lawmakers are expected to pose questions to the Council of Ministers on relevant matters in the integration process.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to grace a Special Sitting and address the Assembly on Friday.