EALA has debated and passed the 2016/17 Budget totaling $101,374,589 with amendments following reallocations.
Tanzania Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation, Hon Dr Susan Kolimba presented the Budget speech to an attentive House on behalf of the substantive Minister and Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers Hon Dr Augustine Mahiga.
The 2016/2017 Budget is a drop down from $110,660,098 million presented to the House in the previous Financial Year. The Budget themed Towards Full Implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol and Enhancing the Implementation of the Monetary Union Protocol prioritizes the full implementation of the EAC Single Customs Territory, enhanced implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol especially additional commitments and interconnectivity of border immigration systems.
Prior to passing of the Budget, the Assembly resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and means to consider the Financial Statement for 2016/7 and a similar Committee of Supply to approve the Estimates of Expenditure for the same.
With it, the Assembly also passed the East African Community Appropriation Bill, 2016.
Debate of the Budget Speech was preceded by the presentation of the Committee on General Purpose on the EAC Budget Estimates for Revenue and Expenditure for the Financial Year 2016/17 by the Committee’s Chairperson, Hon Dr Odette Nyiramilimo.
The Report indicates that the Community would focus on a number of areas in the coming Financial Year including the full implementation of the Single Customs Territory, as well as the enhanced implementation of the Common market Protocol. Other key priority areas are development of infrastructure, institutional strengthening and the implementation of EAC Peace and Security initiatives.
In reviewing its recommendations, the Committee once again emphasises the efficient use of Community resources and the proper delimitation of the role and responsibilities of the finance and advisory committee.  With it comes the need to align the budget with the EAC objectives and its strategic objectives. On the size of the budget, the Committee notes the downward trend over the last three years against a number of programmes and projects of the Community.
It thus recommends for the Council of Ministers to look seriously into the issue of inadequate funding, allow it (the Committee) to hold deliberations with the Council on sustainable funding as well as proposals for strong legislative and institutional support for the Common Market and the Monetary Union stages.
The Assembly is also emphatic that Partner States must desist from using the General reserves as a source of funds to substitute remittances, a move it terms as a high risk in terms of liquidity on the one side and that of litigation on the other.
Following reallocations by the House, the Budget is allocated to the Organs and Institutions of the EAC as follows; East African Community Secretariat ($57, 741, 185), East African Legislative Assembly ($16,086,224) and the East African Court of Justice ($4,286,477).
The Inter-University Council for East Africa shall receive ($4,553,890), Lake Victoria Basin Commission ($11,214,708) while $ 2,131,422 is earmarked for the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization.  On their part, the East African Science and Technology Commission shall receive ($ 1,196,542), East African Kiswahili Commission ($ 1,179,542) and the East African Health Research Commission ($ 1,397,438). The East African Competition Authority is to benefit from $ 1,587,565 in the Financial Year.
The following members contributed to the debate; Hon Bernard Mulengani, Hon Ussi Maryam, Hon Emerence Bucumi, Hon Jeremie Ngendakumana, Hon Dora Byamukama, Hon Saoli ole Nkanae, Hon Frederic Ngenzebuhoro, Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema and Hon Christophe Bazivamo.
Others were Hon Chris Opoka, Hon Straton Ndikuryayo, Hon Sarah Bonaya, Hon Abubakar Zein, Hon Nusura Tiperu, Hon Mumbi Ngaru and Hon Martin Ngoga.
The debate was preceded by the passage of the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2016 amounting to USD 1,569,941 for the Financial Year ending 30th June 2016. The Supplementary estimates were not passed at the previous 5th Meeting of the 4th Session held in Dar Es Salaam in March 2016.
