The East African Community (EAC) Sectoral Council on Legal and Judicial Affairs is set to hold its sixth meeting on the proposed amendments of the treaty for the establishment of the EAC which starts today at Nyali Beach Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya.

The two day meeting will review the treaty meant to make the Community a more effective organisation in the face of new challenges and new expectations that have emerged as the regional organisation mandate expands.

"Rwanda will be represented by members from the Ministry of Justice, who will give us a report. Recommendations and proposals from the report will then be presented to the full EAC council as a basis for final decisions regarding integration,” Monique Mukaruriza, Rwanda’s Minister for EAC affairs told The New Times.

Chaired by Hon. Tharcisse Karugarama, the meeting will also be attended by Attorney General, Amos Wako from Kenya, Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Edward Khiddu-Makubuya from Uganda, Attorney General, Johnson Mwanyika from Tanzania, Attorney General, Ndaye  Elysee  from Burundi and  Amb. Juma Mwapachu, Secretary General of the East African Community among others.

According to Mukarurinza, some of the main issues to be discussed by the sectoral council; are the regulations, protocols, and Acts governing the operations of the various projects and programmes of the East African Community.

After its conclusion on 30th November 1999, the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC entered into force on 7th July 2000.

It specifically provides for the establishment of the East African Community as an international organisation charged with the integration of the Partner States for their mutual benefit.

"Nine years since its establishment, the treaty has raised a number of new challenges which the Partner States have noted. In this regard therefore, amendment of the treaty has been considered so that, customs partnership can be strengthened and regulations on working relationships of the EAC member states, improved upon, among other issues,” she added. 

Draft Regulations on the Lake Victoria Transport Act, 2007;  Draft Protocol to Establish the East African Tourism and Wildlife Co-ordination Agency  (EATWCA) and the Proposal  on harmonization of legal training curricula, are some of the proposed amendments that will be discussed.

The preparatory meetings for the Sectoral Council started in Mombasa on Monday 18 January with the sessions of Senior Officials which will later led to the Session of Permanent Secretaries on Thursday, 22 January. 

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