Written by
Faridah N Kulumba
This week a row broke out at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, over the election of the Clerk to the regional legislative body.
This followed a decision by EALA Speaker Ngonga from Rwanda giving Mr Saidi Othman Yakubu the EALA Clerk position at Uganda’s expense.
Shortlists
While following the recent advertisement of nearly 60 jobs in the secretariat and other institutions of the East African Community, the secretariat shortlisted candidates and promptly carried out interviews including the clerk of the assembly and their deputy.
The interviews were conducted by the Clerk to parliament from respective partner states, with Uganda being represented by Mr Adolf Mwesige. However, Uganda lawmakers claim that a Ugandan, Alex Lumumba Obatre, emerged the best, Mr Yakubu was confirmed as clerk, and Mr John Njoroge from Kenya will serve as his deputy.
Daily Monitor saw a copy of a letter, signed by the Speaker, confirming “that the commission with the decision of 10 out of 12 recommended the appointment of Saidi Othman Yakubu and John Njoroge Mtega as clerk and deputy clerk respectively”.
What Uganda want
Two Ugandan Members of Parliament, both representatives on the commission, claimed that the scores which were given to Mr Obatre were reduced from 25 to nine by Tanzanian panellists, and therefore consequently recommended a review of the recruitment process.
Another Ugandan representative Mr Denis Namara, moved a motion – under article 49 (2) of the Treaty and Rule 13 of the Rules of procedure of the Assembly to suspend the ongoing recruitment. Joined by their South Sudanese counterparts, Ugandans vowed to fight to the bitter end.
Tanzanians disappeared
Tanzanian legislators opted to deny the assembly quorum, and only two members stayed in the House, which forced the Speaker to consequently adjourn the assembly for lack of quorum.
Procedures
The recruitment of staff in the Community is premised on the principle that citizens from all partner states should enjoy the same rights to employment opportunities accruing from the integration process.
Equally, the staff rules and regulations require that the recruitment of staff will be done on a quota system. The system provides that partner states must have points for its citizens to be considered as eligible candidates. As of June 8, Tanzania had a balance of six points.
Other partner states like Kenya (10), Uganda (18), Burundi (26) Rwanda (36) and South Sudan (36) have balances in double digits. The rules provide that a country must have a minimum of 14 points.
According to the lawmakers, this makes Tanzania and Kenya ineligible to front candidates for the Clerk position.
