Uganda Prepares to Fund EALA Legislators Following Regional Summit Directives

The Parliament of Uganda is taking proactive steps to review its budgetary provisions to ensure the smooth remuneration of Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). This development follows a crucial directive issued by the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State during their 25th Ordinary Summit in Arusha, Tanzania, where President Yoweri Museveni assumed the rotational chairmanship of the bloc.

During the summit, regional leaders resolved that partner states would directly handle the remuneration of their respective EALA representatives starting in December 2027. Speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the EAC Speakers’ Bureau in Nairobi, Kenya, Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth affirmed Uganda’s readiness to execute this directive.

Oboth emphasized that implementation remains subject to the necessary legal amendments within the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. While the exact financial implications are yet to be finalized, the commitment marks a significant shift in how Uganda supports its regional delegates.

In addition to remuneration changes, the Speaker addressed proposed adjustments to the EALA election model under Article 50(1) of the Treaty. Under the new framework, individual partner states will have the autonomy to identify and select their nine legislative representatives according to domestic procedures.

Oboth reiterated Uganda’s steadfast dedication to regional integration, stressing that the vitality of the EAC relies on translating collective resolutions into tangible actions. Furthermore, he confirmed Uganda’s financial backing for the upcoming EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games slated for December 2026 in Arusha, an annual tournament designed to foster solidarity and cooperation among regional lawmakers.

Read more details on the Parliament of Uganda.