EAC criticised over posts

Arusha. The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat came under fire on Tuesday over appointments of key officials, including the failure to pick a deputy Secretary General from Rwanda.

A legislator from Uganda, Mr Bernard Mulengani, told the House at the start of the two week session that the Arusha-based secretariat has failed to appoint the deputy Secretary General since the slot became vacant in April this year with the end of tenure of former EAC Secretary General Richard Sezibera.

Under the EAC Treaty, all member countries in the bloc should have a deputy Secretary General among the top executive staff except the country whose national holds the post of Secretary General.

Burundi’s Liberat Mfumukeko is the current Secretary General, forfeited the post of deputy Secretary General as was the case for Rwanda between April 2011 to April this year while  Dr Sezibera was at the helm of the EAC.

Mr Mulengani said he did not understand why it has taken so long for the secretariat to fast-track the appointment of the new deputy Secretary General.

Until his appointment Mr Mfumukeko, was the deputy Secretary General responsible for Finance and Administration.

Early in June, there were reports that Rwandan member of Eala Christopher Bazivamo, had been endorsed by the EAC Council of Ministers — the policy organ of the community — for the post of deputy Secretary General and that his name had been forwarded to the five Heads of State for approval.