Parliament has sanctioned sh1.88b to support Ministry of East African Community Affairs officials in attending crucial regional meetings in the upcoming financial year. The decision follows a report from the budget committee, prompted by the Ministry’s disclosure that insufficient funding had hindered their participation in key regional gatherings previously. The committee emphasized the importance of Uganda’s engagement in East African Community (EAC) integration activities, citing that inadequate funds could undermine the nation’s position in negotiation agendas.
This approval is outlined in the committee’s report on the National Budget Framework Paper for the financial period 2024/25 to 2028/29, endorsed by Parliament on January 31, 2024. Chairing the committee, Patrick Isiagi Opolot, MP for Kachumbala County, stressed the necessity of allocating sh1.88b from the Ministry of Finance to facilitate the EAC ministry’s involvement in these significant meetings.
Additionally, MPs granted an extra sh444m to support the Ministry in coordinating both regional and national efforts toward drafting the EAC political confederation constitution. However, only sh36m of the required sh480m had been allocated, leaving a funding gap of sh444m. The adoption of the political confederation as a transitional model to the EAC political federation was discussed during the 17th Summit, and a secretariat has been established at the Ministry to oversee this agenda. Nonetheless, the House was informed that the planned activities for drafting the constitution at both national and regional levels lack adequate funding.
According to the EAC website, significant progress has been made in the bloc’s integration journey over the past 22 years. The EAC, which now comprises eight countries including Somalia, admitted in November 2023, aims to establish a Federal State capable of coordinating policies and addressing common challenges for sustainable growth and development in the community.
