Hon. Ntakarutimana Joseph a legislator from Burundi in the East African Legislative Assembly has won the speakership race that was held on Tuesday at the Assembly headquarters in Arusha Tanzania.
Ntakarutimana who contested alone in this race garnered 54 votes representing 85.7% of the total 63 votes cast.
The newly elected speaker who will lead this 5th parliament for the next five years also took his oath of office shortly after he was declared.
In his speech after the oath, Ntakarutimana thanked the members for the confidence and faith entrusted in him to lead them and the entire staff of the Assembly for conducting the inauguration of all members on Monday and the election of the speaker in a credible manner.
“We must ensure that in doing our work, the interest of the people of East Africa is given top priority so as to meet the legitimate expectations to uplift their standards of living” Ntakarutimana advised fellow members.
The regional Assembly is composed of 63 members who took their oath of allegiance to protect the treaty that establishes the East African Community on Monday including the nine new members representing the Democratic Republic of Congo that joined the community in 2021.
The five year term of the Assembly has started today after the election of the speaker and Uganda will be represented by among others Hon Siranda Gerald, Kadogo Veronica Babirye, Kakooza James, Paul Musamali Mwasa, and Mary Mugyenyi.
Hon. Alitwala Rebecca Kadaga the Minister of East African Affairs was also amongst the representatives who took their oath of office and she will represent the country in the council of Ministers.
The election of the speaker was witnessed in the gallery by Brig. Gen. Richard Karemire, Hon. Nandala Mafabi, Hon. Christine Kasule the deputy secretary general of Democratic Party, Amb. Ann Katusiime the head of Uganda consulate in Arusha amongst others.
