Rwanda has applied to host the East African Community (EAC) Science and Technology Commission, in the ongoing negotiations to equitably share regional benefits. 

According to the Minister for the EAC Affairs, Monique Mukaruliza, Rwanda stands the chance of being home to the commission once the EAC secretariat comes up with a roadmap stipulating the equitable distribution of EAC benefits.

"The EAC secretariat has not yet come up with this roadmap. But since Rwanda and Burundi are the latest members to join the community, we stand chances of hosting the Science and Technology Commission,” Mukaruliza said.

Up to now, the biggest part of the benefits go to the three founding members of the regional bloc; Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Given their founding member status, they command huge numbers of employees at the Arusha based secretariat and are also home to some of the bloc’s institutions.

Tanzania has the biggest number of EAC institutions which include; the EAC secretariat, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and the East African Court of Justice.

Kenya is home to the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, while Uganda hosts the Inter University Council of East Africa.

Mukaruliza also disclosed that the meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers that concluded in Arusha last week, had agreed on a further comprehensive analysis on the issue of equitable distribution of benefits.

"Issues will be decided upon in the next EAC Council of Ministers meeting which is scheduled to sit before the Summit in November this year,” Mukaruliza, who is also the Chairperson of the Council said.  

The Council of Ministers, a policy organ of the community consists of the ministers responsible for the EAC and such other ministers of the partner state as each partner state shall determine.

Prospective EAC institutions that are yet to be distributed among partner states are; the EAC Court of Justice, the Swahili Commission and the Science and Technology Commission.  

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