Rwanda will host the 6th Edition of the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games Tournament in Kigali from December 4 to 11. Different sports disciplines including football, netball, volleyball, golf, tug of war and athletics will feature with all Partner States Parliaments and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). “The games were initiated to enhance interaction with the citizenry of the Partner States and as a mode of sensitization and popularization of the Integration process,” reads part of a statement from Rwanda’s parliament. “They are also considered a key aspect of building relations between the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the National Assemblies in the EAC region.” Following a decision by the EAC Speakers’ Forum in 2009, the games were institutionalized as an annual activity of the EALA and national Assemblies. The inaugural Inter-Parliamentary Football Tournament was then held in Arusha, Tanzania in November 2009 to mark the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of the EAC. Since then, EAC Partner States have hosted the Inter-Parliamentary Games on a rotational basis. The second tournament was held in Burundi, in 2011 while Kenya hosted the third in 2012. Uganda hosted the fourth edition in 2013 while the fifth was hosted by Tanzania in 2014.
