The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has sworn in Ali Haji Kirunda Kivejinja, Uganda’s third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, as an Ex-Officio Member.

The Oath of Allegiance to the House was administered by the Clerk of EALA, before the Speaker, Daniel F. Kidega, according to a statement.

Kivejinja took the oath in accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly which requires all members to take Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the Treaty before sitting or participating in the proceedings of the House.

Rule 5(5) states that "when a member first attends to take his or her seat other than at the first sitting of a new House, he or she shall be brought to the table by two members and presented by them to the Speaker who shall then administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance”.

Kivejinja was ushered into the House by MPs Bernard Mulengani, Dora Byamukama and AbuBakr Ogle.

Kivejinja replaces the late Eriya Kategaya. He was appointed to Cabinet by President Yoweri Museveni in November 2015.

The Minister of State for EAC, Uganda, is Shem Bageine who, according to Article 48, may participate in the sittings in the absence of Kivejinja.

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