THE East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)
yesterday passed a Bill granting the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat
permission to spend an additional $2,143,960 for the financial year 2013/14 to
meet its programmes.Defending the supplementary budget on Wednesday,
Uganda’s Minister of State for EAC Affairs Shem Bageine, said the supplementary
budget will prioritise three main areas.
According to a breakdown, $1,142,763 will be
allocated to activities to enhance agriculture, trade and customs, $494, 700
will be allocated to EAC-World Bank Public Financial Management Harmonisation
Project, while $506, 497 will be spent on strengthening the East and Southern
Africa-India Ocean (ESA-IO) Maritime Security Project.
Pierre Celestin Rwigema, an EALA member from Rwanda
encouraged the EAC Secretariat to look inwards for additional funding.
“The budget only provides for conferences for people
with disabilities, youth and women in business. There are various other groups
that need to be considered as well,” Peter Mathuki, another EALA legislator
said.
Bernard Mulengani, from Uganda, said the assembly
had not received a report on the previous budget.
He said there was need for the EAC to have more
programmes and fewer consultancies and workshops.
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