EAC calls for promotion of Kiswahili as lingua franca for the region

EALA is urging the Council of Ministers to promote Kiswahili language as the lingua franca of the Community as per Article 131 of the EAC Treaty so that it may uphold East Africanness as an entity.  

The Assembly is also calling for the establishment of a mechanism for reaching out to the people of East Africa as well as to promote and espouse the fundamental principles of the Community. The recommendations sum up the Report of the Nanyuki (VII) Seminar (Inter-Parliamentary Relations seminar) which was tabled and adopted by the House today.  

The Report presented to the House by Hon Abdul Karim Harelimana was a culmination of a two day series held in Entebbe, Uganda on June 10-11, 2013. The Report further identified specific roles for specific stakeholders including academia, media and civil society as well as the Private Sector, Gender and Youth.  The theme of the Nanyuki VII was “Promoting a People-Centred and Market driven East Africa – the Missing Link in the EAC integration”

The June Seminar which was also addressed by President Yoweri Museveni further tasked the Council of Ministers to consider developing regional youth centres, exchange programmes and entrepreneurship to promote the youth agenda in the region.

During debate today, Hon Mike Sebalu remarked that the Nanyuki VII series was unique giving Parliamentarians, state and non-state actors an opportunity to positively engage on matters of integration.

“The meeting was an expression of what East Africa is all about and we should follow the recommendations in spirit and letter”, he maintained.  

He further called for free movement of labour and cited the need to teach Kiswahili across the region as key.  “Madam Speaker, it would be a good idea to have teachers from the United Republic of Tanzania crossing to Uganda to teach”, he stated.

The Chair of Council, Hon Shem Bageine noted that the Council would step up its work-culture in directing the affairs of the EAC.  “Previously, we have been rather bureaucratic with little time in looking at issues.  However, we shall begin sitting in Arusha every quarter to look at critical issues”, he said.   The Minister noted that there shall be shared responsibilities with each Minister taking charge of specific sectors. 

“In this regard, the Council shall also look at the recommendations of the Nanyuki VII report to assess the status of the same”, the Minister noted. He remarked that Kiswahili was already enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and that it was necessary to popularise it.  “We hope soon, Kiswahili would be introduced in schools in Uganda to bolster its popularity”.

Hon Dora Byamukama urged the EAC to pay more attention to the development of policies and the mechanisms that address Female Genital Mutilation and other issues affecting marginalized groups such as women.

Hon Maryam Ussi Yahya noted that more advocacy problems were needed to reach out to the populace.  “However, there is very limited funding for sensitization and this should be scaled up”, she added.

Hon Isabelle Ndahayo reiterated the need to effectively address matters of the agricultural sector with respect to the Maputo Declaration. (the Declaration urges Member Countries who penned their signatures to set aside ten percent of their national budgets for agriculture).

Hon Valerie Nyirahabineza emphasized the need to implement bills passed by EALA.  She however added that it was necessary to develop a roadmap enabling the harmonization of laws in a similar manner and fashion and in line with operationalisation of Article 65 of the EAC Treaty.

The report was also supported by Hon ShyRose Bhanji, Hon Susan Nakawukki, Hon Dr Odette Nyiramilimo, Hon Valerie Nyirahabineza, Hon Taslima Twaha and Hon Leonce Ndarubagiye. 

The Assembly further granted leave to the Chair of the EALA Legal Rules Privileges Committee, Hon Dora Byamukama to introduce a Private Members Bill entitled The East African Community Cross Border Legal Practice Bill, 2013.

Hon Byamukama informed the House that the object of the Bill was to promote cross-border practice and to facilitate free movement of professional legal services.   “If enacted, such a Bill would further pave the way for other professionals to benefit from the tenets of the Common Market Protocol”, the legislator added. 

Hon. Shem Bageine, Chair, Council of Ministers answer questions from Members of the August House during the EALA 2nd  Meeting in Burundi National Assembly.