Museveni set to address East African MPs tomorrow
President Museveni (R) talks to three Ugandans based at the Saemeul Undong Central Training Institute in South Korea during a state visit to the Asian country last week. PHOTO BY PPU.
What you need to know:
Top on the Agenda. The President is, among others, expected to talk about the progress of the integration process and what the EAC expects of the regional law makers.
KAMPALA
President Museveni will tomorrow (Wednesday) address the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) that is currently meeting in Kampala.
The legislative body of the East African Community started meeting in Kampala last week and is expected to close business on June 9, before returning to its Arusha headquarters. Mr Museveni, who is also the chairperson of the EAC presidents, was expected to address EALA during its first week but he did not due to several other commitments.
The Ugandan leader is expected to talk about the progress of the integration process and what the EAC expects of the regional MPs. The chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Mr Shem Bageine, when contacted by the Daily Monitor yesterday, said: “I am sure he will talk about the integration process.”
Ms Nusura Tiperu, one of Uganda’s representatives to EALA, said she expects Mr Museveni to brief the community on the 11-day police siege of two media houses; the Monitor Publications Ltd and the Red Pepper.
“The media closure caused a lot of expectation. Uganda has its own version but the region should also be briefed by him as summit chairperson and probably how he expects the media to operate at regional level,” she said.
Ms Tiperu also said the MPs expect Mr Museveni to talk about electricity problem that is affecting economic growth in the whole community. He is also expected to make mention of the community involvement within the tripartite trade areas, the relationship with EU and US markets, among others.
“He [Museveni] is the custodian of the East African Community dreams having been there from the re-establishment period. We expect a lot from him,” said Ms Tiperu. She also thinks the ICC question could come in as he addresses the EAC since he has recently been making statements about the international criminal court and its mandate.
After Mr Museveni’s address, the EALA is expected to debate and pass their Shs340b budget and also participate in their Nanyuki series programme which is expected to rally many more East Africans to the understanding of the objectives of the Community.
Currently, the negotiations for the East African Monetary Union and fast tracking the process towards East African Federation are top on the agenda.
