THE East African
Legislative Assembly (EALA) has refused to approve a vote on account of
67.1bn/- (29.4m US dollars) for quarter one of a new financial year,
saying that the Council of Ministers must table the annual budget
estimates first.
Members unanimously
agreed to stay a request by the EAC Council of Ministers to approve the
vote for supporting the normal operations of the EAC.
Accordingly, EALA
Speaker, Mr Martin Ngoga, upon request by the House, invoked Section 12
of the EAC Budget 2008, to extend the period for consideration of the
EAC Budget for Financial Year (FY) 2020/2021.
At the same time,
the Assembly urged the EAC Secretary General, Ambassador Liberat
Mfumukeko, and the Council of Ministers to always comply with the
provisions of the Treaty and the EAC Budget in regard to the preparation
and presentation of the budget to the Assembly.
Following a letter
to the Assembly by Ambassador Mfumukeko, Chair of the Council of
Ministers, Mr Nshuti Manasseh, tabled a request for vote on account for
FY 2020/2021. The request was in line with Article 6 of the EAC Budget
Act, 2008, as a stop-gap measure to allow for continuity of the
activities of the Community.
The Chair of
Council noted that it had not been possible to bring the budget
estimates in good time (by 30th April) of the financial year due to an
outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic and other reasons.
He assured the
Assembly that the Council of Ministers would duly meet, no later than
next week, to consider the budget proposals.
The Committee on
General Purpose had met to consider the request ahead of the afternoon
sitting. Presenting the report of the committee to an attentive House,
Committee Chairman, Mr Abdikadir Aden, said whereas the request was
noted, it would be irregular to invoke the provision of section 6 of the
Budget Act.
He said that
Chairperson of the Council of Ministers should first present the EAC
Budget Estimates for the FY 2020/2021 as required by Article 132(2) of
the
"The Assembly
cannot be an accomplice in the commission of such an illegality. It
would be speculative for the Assembly to approve a Vote-on-Account
amounting to 29,402,292 US dollars at a time when the Council of
Ministers has neither met nor even set a date for a meeting to consider
and approve the budget estimates", the Chair of the Committee said.
The amount was to
be allocated to the EAC organs and institutions, but is yet to be tabled
to the Assembly. They relate to EAC Secretariat (13,033,857 US
dollars), East African Court of Justice (1,323,469US dollars), EALA
(5,585,242 US dollars).
On its part, the
Lake Victoria Basin Commission was to receive 2,793,352US dollars while
the East African Science and Technology Commission was allocated 512,250
US dollars.
At least 466,439 US
dollars was earmarked for the East African Kiswahili Commission. The
East African Health Research Commission was to be allocated 626,533 US
dollars while East African Competition Authority would receive 376,080
US dollars.
On their part, the
Inter-University Council of East Africa was to receive 3,659,092 US
dollars while the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization had an earmarked
figure of 1,025,978US dollar.
Mr Aden informed
the House that EALA Commission had engaged the Council of Ministers and
the Secretary General on the matter but the Council of Ministers has not
indicated when the Budget Estimates will be presented to the Assembly,
something that has serious implications on the effective functioning of
the organs and institutions of the Community.
Members who
supported the stand were Dr Rose Akol, Mr Gideon Gatpan Ms Fancy Nkuhi,
Dr Oburu Oginga, Ms Maryam Ussi, Ms Fatuma Ibrahim, Florence Jematia, Dr
Woda Odok Jeremiah and Ms Mary Mugyenyi.
In response, Chair
of Council of Ministers, Mr Nshuti, assured the House that the Council
would meet next week to table the budget estimates.
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