East Africa Legislative Assembly convenes in Kampala

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) will today resume plenary business in Kampala, Uganda. The Plenary which will run until June 6, is the Sixth Meeting of the First Session of the Third Assembly. During the two-week period, EALA will discuss matters of legislative business, including: the EAC Vehicle Load Control Bill 2012; the EAC Appropriation Bill; receive and consider reports from various Committees of the Assembly; and consider Motions and Questions brought before the House, a communiqué seen by The New Times says. Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, who also doubles as Chairperson of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State, is expected to address a Special Sitting on Wednesday, June 5. The Assembly which shall be presided over by EALA Speaker Margaret Nantongo Zziwa.EALA is also expected to receive and deliberate on the EAC Budget speech. The Budget speech for the financial year 2013/2014 shall be presented to the House by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Shem Bageine.EALA will after the plenary, convene the 7th inter-parliamentary relations seminar, commonly referred to as the Nanyuki series on June 7-9, in Kampala.The theme of this year’s seminar is ‘Promoting a People-Centred and Market-Driven East Africa’. Over 200 legislators from the National assemblies and EALA are expected to attend.The Assembly organises the annual seminar principally to bring together EALA members and their counterparts from the National Assemblies to discuss relevant issues around regional integration, strengthen functional relationships of parliaments and to enhance networking, discourse and information exchange.