EALA resumes business in Kampala next week

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is set to resume business in the Ugandan capital Kampala next week. EALA’s Senior Public Relations Officer, Bobi Odiko, said a tight schedule awaits the regional legislators over the two-week sitting in Kampala. Host President Yoweri Museveni is expected to address a special plenary of the Assembly next week and, the Assembly will also receive a number of reports from its standing committees. Two new pieces of legislation initiated by a Rwandan lawmaker; the EAC Electronic Transaction Bill, 2014, and the EAC Creative Industries Bill, 2015, are expected to be passed when the regional lawmakers resume business. MP Dr James Ndahiro, the brains behind the two draft laws, has no qualms they will be duly embraced and implemented by the five East African Community (EAC) member countries. “My hope is due to the fact that there is political will. Even the current integration agenda is a political decision. There is no reason why I should doubt that and, I can only contribute to the leaders’ dream,” Ndahiro told The New Times. “For example, the EAC heads of state, in the recent past, decided to establish the one area network, it is a good sign of political will by leaders. These two laws will be passed and, will actually benefit people in the Community.” The Assembly has no particular mechanism of ensuring enforcement and implementation of laws and resolutions passed. But it regularly follows up by putting pertinent questions to the Council of Ministers and relies on the good will of countries. Mid last year, MP Ndahiro introduced a private member’s bill on electronic transactions that, if passed, will enable traders cut the cost of doing business. Earlier this year, he also got permission to introduce a private member’s bill seeking to boost the five-member bloc’s creative industries. The Electronic Transaction Bill, 2014, seeks to meet the need of exploiting electronic transactions in modern day business transactions. It also seeks to promote technology neutrality in applying legislation to electronic communications and transactions and to develop a safe, secure and effective environment for the consumer, business and governments of the partner states to conduct and use electronic transactions. The EAC Creative and Cultural Industries Bill, 2015, sailed through the first reading in January. The proposed law aims to promote the creative and cultural industries in the region. It seeks to establish a Creative and Cultural Industries Council that shall provide an environment conducive to the enhancement and stimulation of creativity and innovative endeavours among citizens of the Community. Once formed, the Council will provide high quality training in skills and creativity development and formulate policies and strategies that shall stimulate creativity and innovations among the youth to ensure long term supply of talents. “Creative and Cultural Industries are considered one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy and contribute significantly to Gross Domestic Product of many developed and developing countries,” reads part of EALA statement. The two Bills are expected to sail through the second and third readings, respectively. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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EALA resumes business in Kampala next week