We must send only the best to Eala

EALA in session. File photo

What you need to know:

  • During the 2012-2017 Eala term, Uganda’s image was tainted when the former Eala Speaker from Uganda was impeached. Unfortunately, some of the representatives who championed the impeachment were Ugandans.
  • I am appealing to the Speaker of Parliament, Verification Committee of Parliament to send representatives who will improve the image of Uganda and add value to the Eala debates.

We need to be careful which people we send to the East African Legislative Assembly. We should send representatives who will promote the image of Uganda. People who are well-informed in different areas of focus of the East African integration. Representatives who will be consulted and depended on during debates, and when formulating laws and policies for the region. They should have skills and capacity to mobilise others, initiate relevant and important Bills, policies and then follow-up on their implementation.
Representatives who will conduct themselves in a manner befitting of a representative of Uganda; poor behaviour or misconduct will affect our image. Image is everything, image affects tourism.

During the 2012-2017 Eala term, Uganda’s image was tainted when the former Eala Speaker from Uganda was impeached. Unfortunately, some of the representatives who championed the impeachment were Ugandans. This time, we need individuals who will work as a team and promote the image of Uganda.
We need to prepare the representatives for such high level positions at the Eala. This includes undertaking pre-image audit exercises, grooming including the style of dressing, speaking, walking and media messaging, choice of words. We need to coach them on diplomatic and international relations, the East African integration process, Uganda’s strategic interests in the Eala, and how to promote Uganda’s image.

Let us learn from the football teams that countries send to international tournaments. The profiles of players of various teams are always discussed and analysed on international media. National coaches have to select the best team players and allocate them positions where they are best utilised. They have to play as a team; and anybody who fails to play as team and according to the coaches’ instructions, is in most cases recalled.
This is competition, and therefore we need to get the best representatives and allocate them areas of focus according to their competencies. They are expected to understand and debate issues from a regional and international perspective. This means that the people to be sent should have knowledge and experience at the local, regional and international levels. This is important to enable them make regional policies that are in line with international policies and other regional blocks.
I am appealing to the Speaker of Parliament, Verification Committee of Parliament to send representatives who will improve the image of Uganda and add value to the Eala debates. Improved image will in turn be used as a marketing strategy for promoting Uganda’s tourism and exports in the region. Together we can market Uganda!
Chris Muhango,
[email protected]