ARUSHA - An East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) symposium themed: "A Decade of Service towards a Political Federation” is scheduled to open in Arusha, Tanzania, on June 30.

The event is part of celebrations to mark EALA’s tenth anniversary and will be attended by over 150 participants from the political class, civil society, private sector, as well as academia and youth organisations.

Robert Ssali, the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of EAC, said it was a good forum that will help to cement the integration of the regional bloc.

"It’s quite a good event that I think will help to increase awareness to East Africans about the community’s agenda, especially since it will attract several politicians and academia to shed right on strengthening the EAC”, he said.

He added that EALA Speaker, Abdirahin H. Abdi, requested his ministry to invite a Rwandan cultural dance troupe to grace the event.

"Hon. Abdirahin H. Abdi wants our cultural troupe "Inganzo Ngari "to perform at the event after seeing their excellent dance that combines all the regional dancing styles,” said Ssali.

The symposium is designed as a forum for people to exchange views on EALA’s work over the last 10 years, which has focused on economic integration and the ultimate goal of attaining the East African Political Federation.

It will become an annual forum geared to help the assembly attain its objective of being people-centred.

Among the panellists who will speak on the guidelines towards realisation of the political federation include Prof Anastase Shyaka, who chaired Rwanda’s National Consultative Committee on fast tracking of the political federation and Prof. Mahmood Mamdani.

Others are former secretary generals, Ambassador Francis Muthaura, Ambassador Juma Mwapachu and the present Secretary General, Dr. Richard Sezibera.

The event is expected to attract a host of luminaries, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, former Presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin William Mkapa (Tanzania) and Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya.

Ends