The budget also seeks to improve agricultural productivity, value addition and movement of produce. FILE PHOTO
Kampala. The East African
Legislative Assembly (EALA) has passed a $110.1m (Shs396b) budget for
the financial year 2017/18, an 8 per cent increase from $101.3m
(Shs364b) for the year ending in June.
The new budget seeks to prioritise the development and promotion of nine sectors, including regional infrastructure, trade and investment.
Presenting the budget to the Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, last week, Uganda’s Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, the chairperson of the Council of Ministers of EAC, said: “The new budget seeks to consolidate the Single Customs Territory (SCT) to cover all imports and intra-EAC traded goods including agricultural and other widely consumed products.”
The new budget seeks to prioritise the development and promotion of nine sectors, including regional infrastructure, trade and investment.
Presenting the budget to the Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, last week, Uganda’s Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, the chairperson of the Council of Ministers of EAC, said: “The new budget seeks to consolidate the Single Customs Territory (SCT) to cover all imports and intra-EAC traded goods including agricultural and other widely consumed products.”
The budget
themed: ‘Accelerating Implementation of the EAC Integration Agenda’ will
also seek to improve agricultural productivity, value addition and
facilitation of movement of agricultural goods to enhance food security
in the region.
Other areas are infrastructure development in the region, further liberalisation of free movement of skilled labour across the partner states, enhancement of regional industrial development through investment in key priority sectors, skills development, technological advancement and innovation to stimulate economic development.
Other areas are infrastructure development in the region, further liberalisation of free movement of skilled labour across the partner states, enhancement of regional industrial development through investment in key priority sectors, skills development, technological advancement and innovation to stimulate economic development.
Expected Outcome
Mr Kivejinja said the implementation of the priority programmes will result into the consolidation of the Single Customs Territory.
“It is expected that intra-EAC trade, especially trade in agricultural goods, will increase significantly. The cost of doing business in the EAC region will be reduced, resulting in a reduction in the cost of living for the citizens of East Africa,” he said.
Mr Kivejinja said the implementation of the priority programmes will result into the consolidation of the Single Customs Territory.
“It is expected that intra-EAC trade, especially trade in agricultural goods, will increase significantly. The cost of doing business in the EAC region will be reduced, resulting in a reduction in the cost of living for the citizens of East Africa,” he said.
Also,
development of regional infrastructure is expected to reduce incidents
of overloading, thus leading to a reduction in maintenance budgets for
road agencies, and improvement in cross border movement for persons and
goods.
“Liberalisation of air transport services will result to an increase in traffic routes, air traffic movements and passengers, and a reduction in the cost of air transport,” Mr Kivejinja said.
Another expected outcome is the enhanced implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol, particularly free movement of skilled labour across partner states.
“Liberalisation of air transport services will result to an increase in traffic routes, air traffic movements and passengers, and a reduction in the cost of air transport,” Mr Kivejinja said.
Another expected outcome is the enhanced implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol, particularly free movement of skilled labour across partner states.
He said: “This is expected to lead to
significant improvement in labour productivity and consequently
increased overall productivity in the region”.
Additionally, enhancing agricultural productivity and regional industrial development, particularly value-addition, are aimed at ensuring food security, increase employment opportunities and incomes.
The resource envelop will be financed by the respective member countries’ ministries of education, fisheries and universities. Development partners will contribute about$52.8m (Shs190b).
However, Rwanda and Burundi are against the equal contributions requirement in financing the bloc’s activities.
Burundi has not contributed anything for the current budget despite other members contributing part of their share.
Additionally, enhancing agricultural productivity and regional industrial development, particularly value-addition, are aimed at ensuring food security, increase employment opportunities and incomes.
The resource envelop will be financed by the respective member countries’ ministries of education, fisheries and universities. Development partners will contribute about$52.8m (Shs190b).
However, Rwanda and Burundi are against the equal contributions requirement in financing the bloc’s activities.
Burundi has not contributed anything for the current budget despite other members contributing part of their share.
The allocations
The budget is intended to be allocated to the organs and institutions of the EAC as follows:
EAC Secretariat $60.1m(Shs216b)
East African Legislative Assembly $17.9m (Shs64b)
East African Court of Justice $4.1m (Shs14.7b)
Lake Victoria Basin Commission $11.9m (Shs42.8b)
Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation $2.4m (Shs8.6b)
The Inter University Council for East Africa $6.7m (Shs24b)
East African Science & Technology Commission $1.5m (Shs5.4b)
East Africa Kiswahili Commission $1.5m (Shs5.4b)
East Africa Health Research Commission $2.2m (Shs7.9b)
East African Competition Authority $1.3m (Shs4.6b)
The budget is intended to be allocated to the organs and institutions of the EAC as follows:
EAC Secretariat $60.1m(Shs216b)
East African Legislative Assembly $17.9m (Shs64b)
East African Court of Justice $4.1m (Shs14.7b)
Lake Victoria Basin Commission $11.9m (Shs42.8b)
Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation $2.4m (Shs8.6b)
The Inter University Council for East Africa $6.7m (Shs24b)
East African Science & Technology Commission $1.5m (Shs5.4b)
East Africa Kiswahili Commission $1.5m (Shs5.4b)
East Africa Health Research Commission $2.2m (Shs7.9b)
East African Competition Authority $1.3m (Shs4.6b)
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