Uganda’s 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC Affairs, Dr Ali Kirunda Kivejinja has been sworn in as ex officio member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
According to a statement, Kivejinja was sworn in alongside Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC and Northern Corridor Development, Peter Gatirau Munya, and the two took the oath of office before the EALA Speaker Martin Ngoga.
The Oaths of Allegiance to the House are administered in accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, which states in part: ‘No Member can sit or participate in the proceedings of the House until the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the Treaty is taken’.
Dr Ali Kirunda Kivejinja was appointed to cabinet by President Yoweri Museveni in November 2015 and then re-appointed in June 2016 following the elections in the country.
Kivejinja has served in several positions in the Government of the Republic of Uganda. In 1986, he was appointed Minister of Relief and Social Rehabilitation. He has also since served as Minister of Internal Affairs. Rt. Hon Dr Kivenjinja, who holds a MSc in Zoology has been Senior Presidential Advisor for Internal Affairs to President Museveni.
Kivejinja, who has also served as the head of the Veterans’ League of the ruling NRM, is deputized by the Minister of State for EAC Julius Wandera who, according to Article 48 of the Treaty may participate in the Sittings in absence of Kivejinja.
Meanwhile, Gatirau Munya, who was the first to take the Oath of Allegiance, was sworn in as a Cabinet Secretary in Kenya on February 16, 2018 following his appointment by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Prior to his appointment as Cabinet Secretary, Munya served as the first Governor of Meru County, and second Chairman of the Council of Governors. He previously served as a Member of Parliament for Tigania East Constituency in Meru County (2002-2007) and as Leader of the Party of National Unity (PNU). In December 2007 while serving in his second term as MP, Munya was appointed the Assistant Minister, East African Community.
Munya holds a Master’s Degree in International Law (International Economic Integration Law) obtained from University of Brussels in 1995 and a second Master’s Degree in Law (Public Law) obtained from the University of Georgia, USA. He is a holder of a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB Hons), from the University of Nairobi.
EALA Speaker Martin Ngoga hailed the swearing in of both Ministers and said EALA and the region stood to benefit a great deal from their experiences.
The Sitting was also attended by legislators from Kenya and Uganda who are currently in Arusha familiarizing with the activities of EALA and deepening the relationship with the National Parliaments. Kenya’s Regional Integration Committee is headed by Senator Janet Ongera while Hood Katuramu leads the Committee on Commission, Statutory Committees and Public Enterprises (COSASE) from Parliament of Uganda.
