The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) yesterday passed the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) bill, leaving a big number of regional lawmakers suspicious of its intended purpose.

The bill tabled by Dan Wandera Ogalo, intends to give more powers to IUCEA to become a regional body that can accredit foreign universities without necessary approval from national academic accreditation bodies.

"Why should IUCEA be left to accredit foreign universities? What if these universities are coming in the region to spread homosexuality under the guise of teaching academic excellence,” wondered Dan Kidega.

Odette Nyiramirimo said the bill should have waited for IUCEA to go through a process before usurping powers of national accreditation institutions, which she said have done a commendable job.

Kenya’s Assistant Minister of East Africa Community Affairs, Peter Munya, who spoke on behalf of the Council of Ministers, wondered why the bill had been passed without consideration of the amendments to the bill from the ministers.

"There is conflict of interest here; IUCEA is an association of universities in the region, how can universities accredit other universities?” Munya said.

He said that the bill seeks to give special attention to foreign universities when they apply to operate in the region.

Another lawmaker Lydia Wanyoto supported the bill saying that by IUCEA taking up this role; it would reduce on the bureaucracy involved in the accreditation process at partner state level.

Frederic Ngezebuhoro said the bill will greatly contribute to free movement of persons and labour as stipulated in the Common Market Protocol.

Lawmaker Augustine Lotodo wondered whether there was an accreditation agreement that can allow an East African university to be accredited in the United States of America or the United Kingdom.