KIGALI - The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), yesterday, paid tribute to the outgoing EAC Secretary General, Ambassador Juma Mwapachu of Tanzania, for his exemplary work in the advancement of the community.

Members of EALA have, since Tuesday, been meeting in Kigali for their 4th ordinary session.

Reading the assembly resolution to the House, Clarkson Karan described Mwapachu as a dedicated hardworking civil servant who always led by example.

"His work is self evident through significant milestones and achievements throughout his tenure. He performed beyond expectations and we hope his successor will build upon his legacy and extend the growth of this EAC,” Karan said.

He added that Mwapachu steered the community from hard times and managed to build a stronger bloc trusted by donors who increased their funding to the Community.

"He facilitated the admission of Rwanda and Burundi into the EAC fraternity, emphasized on the body having its own headquarters, regional infrastructural development, and greatly facilitated the work of all organs and institutions of the bloc,” he added.
Many speakers commended Mwapachu’s personal and working traits as exemplary, promising to emulate him.

They urged him to publish his memoirs as one of imminent persons in the region for the future generation.

"We are endowed to have worked with him because he is a true Pan-Africanist, and I believe he has achieved all this because of his combined diplomatic and good communication experience,” said Uganda’s Minister for EAC, Eriya Kategaya, who studied with Mwapachu at the University of Dar es Salaam.

The EAC officials meeting in the country held a farewell party for its outgoing SG at Hotel Serena later in the evening.
 
Mwapachu, tenure as EAC Secretary General began in April 2006 and comes to an end this month. A candidate from either Rwanda or Burundi is expected to take up the post.

Ends