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the East African Legislative Assembly
for debate and approval anytime this
month.
During the FY 2020/2021, the
Community will focus on seven
key global priority areas, namely:
Consolidation of theSingle Customs
Territory(SCT) to cover all imports
and intra-EAC traded goods, including
agricultural and other widely consumed
products; Infrastructure Development
in the region; Enhancing free movement
of all factors of production and other
areas of cooperation across the Partner
States as envisaged under the Common
Market and Monetary Union Protocols,
and; Enhancement of regional industrial
development through investment in
A past joint EAC Heads of State retreat on infrastructure and Health enhancing and key priority sectors, skills development,
development in Session technological advancement and
innovation to stimulate economic
Community (EAC) secretariat addressed adopted the US$97.6 million budget development.
the issue of delays by the member that will cater for three EAC Organs and
countries to remit their budgetary Institutions’ recurrent and development Other key priority areas include:
contributions, which was said to be the expenditure for the current financial Improvement of agricultural
reason behind the delayed payment of year which runs from 1 July, 2020 to productivity, value addition and
st
the July salaries then. 30 June, 2021. facilitation of movement of agricultural
th
The acting deputy secretary general Of the total amount, US$55.6 million goods to enhance food security in the
region; Promotion of regional peace,
(Finance and Administration) Steven will come from EAC Partner States while security and good governance, and;
Mlote confirmed that the financial Development Partners will contribute Institutional transformation at the
situation unstable, being quoted saying US$41.9 million. regional and Partner State levels.
the July salaries for its regional legislators The EAC Organs are the EAC Secretariat,
has not been paid. The Council also renewed the contracts
East African Legislative Assembly and of 25 members of Professional Staff in
“It will be paid anytime the financial East African Court of Justice while the EAC Organs and Institutions who
situation allows”, he told journalists in the Institutions are the: Lake Victoria were appointed in 2015 and whose
a hastily convened press conference to Basin Commission; Lake Victoria contracts have since expired or were due
elaborate on the financial situation at the Fisheries Organization; Inter-University to expire by the end of August 2020 for a
Arusha-based regional body. University Council for East Africa; East final term of five (5) years in accordance
Mr Mlote, who is the deputy SG for African Kiswahili Commission; East with the provisions of the EAC Staff
Planning and Infrastructure, confirmed African Health Research Commission; Rules and Regulations (2006).
the monthly pay for the 54 elected East East African Science and Technology The Council further approved the
African Legislative Assembly (Eala) Organization, and; the East African issuance of new contracts for short term
members had not been paid. Competition Authority. staff for a period of six months from 1
st
He added that payment to the The Council further approved the July to 31 December, 2020.
st
respected law makers would be 2020/2021 Financial Year Expenditure Besides Dr. Biruta, the one-day meeting
possible after assurances by Uganda Budget Estimates of US$2.7 million for was attended by Partner Ministers of EAC
which has promised to start making its the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Affairs, namely: Hon. Adan Mohammed
contributions for the 2019/2020 financial Oversight Agency (CASSOA) in addition (Kenya); Hon. Amb. Ezechiel Nibigira
year. The same situation obtained this to Partner States contributions through (Burundi); Hon. Deng Alor Kuol (South
year, and it is until month that the EAC their Civil Aviation Authorities towards Sudan); Hon. Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda
Budget as adopted. the FY2020/2021 Budget Estimates of Otafiire (Uganda), and; Hon. Dr. Damas
The East African Community US$458,910 each. Ndumbaru (Deputy Minister for Foreign
Council of Ministers finally adopted The Chairperson of the Council, Affairs and East African Cooperation,
the Community’s 2020/2021 budget Hon. Dr. Vincent Biruta, who is Tanzania).
estimates, August 6, having delayed for also Rwanda’s Minister for Foreign Also in attendance was the EAC
close to 2 months. Affairs, Cooperation and East African Secretary General, Amb. Liberat
The Council at its 41 Extra-Ordinary Community, is now expected to table Mfumukeko, and his two Deputies
st
Meeting held via Video-Conferencing the 2020/2021 budget estimates before Eng. Steven Mlote (DSG-Infrastructure

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