Increasing the East African Community’s (EAC) budget for the financial year 2012-2013 was imperative, the Permanent Secretary in the EAC ministry, George William Kayonga, has said. The budget increased by 5.08 per cent exceeding the current budget by $1.6m, to $124m, implying that member states will have to contribute more to sustain it.According to Kayonga, the increase will accommodate facilitation of various projects, especially implementation of common market protocols and negotiations on the monetary union.The bloc also recently backed the idea of having president and principal judges appointed to the East African Court of Justice be granted permanent status at the court’s headquarters. On delays by partner states in remitting their contributions, Kayonga noted that Rwanda and Burundi were fulfilling their monetary obligations on time and urged other partner states to remit their allocations for the smooth running of the secretariat.According to a latest report, during the last financial year 2011/2012, Burundi fulfilled its obligations 100 per cent followed by Rwanda with 99.99 per cent while Uganda fulfilled its obligations by 90 per cent.East Africa’s economic giant, Kenya contributed 87.6% while Tanzania honoured 74.7% of its obligations.Burundi has already remitted US$ 2.3m towards the next budget before it’s approved by East Africa Legislative Assembly.The Minister in charge of EAC affairs, Monique Mukaruliza said the increment will not affect the country’s contributions to the community. “Last financial year, we contributed US$6.7m and this time we shall contribute US $7.075m,” she said.According to the report, more funds will be availed to East African Court of Justice (EACJ), Lake Victoria Basin Commission, the Secretariat and East African Legislative Assembly.The Council of Ministers approved the new budget and it waits to be tabled before the regional assembly for further scrutiny.
