EALA Intervenes to Save EAC Parliamentary Games: Member States to Share Costs and Ease Financial Burden

 

By Grace Macha, Arusha

In a strategic move to ease the financial burden on host nations, all member state parliaments of the East African Community (EAC) will now share the operational costs for the 16th Inter-Parliamentary Games (IPGs), with a guiding budget expected before June 26, 2026. This decision follows an intervention by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), which agreed to step in as the alternative host for the regional tournaments, scheduled to take place in Arusha in December 2026.

The decision stems from sudden hosting changes triggered by a congested national calendar in Tanzania, alongside the withdrawal of South Sudan, which is currently redirecting its resources toward preparing for its first general election since gaining independence.

Context and Administrative Challenges

During a Special Meeting of the Bureau of EAC Speakers held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha—chaired by the Speaker of the Senate of Kenya, Amason Jeffah Kingi—the leaders resolved that financial cooperation is the only way to save the games. Under this new cost-sharing framework, the hosting burden will not fall solely on EALA.

Beyond the financial agreement, the leaders discussed and approved several major resolutions:

• Digital System: The introduction of a new paperless electronic registration system, developed by Amos Kimanthi from the Parliament of Kenya, to manage registration, schedules, and match results.
• EAC Financial Crunch: The Bureau addressed the severe funding shortage facing the EAC Secretariat due to member states delaying their statutory contributions. To mitigate the crisis, it was noted that starting December 2027, EALA members will receive their salaries from their respective national parliaments, leaving the EAC budget responsible only for allowances.

The meeting also welcomed new members to the Bureau, including the Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania, Mussa Azzan Zungu; the Speaker of the Parliament of South Sudan, Joseph Ngere Paciko; and the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Jacob Markson Oboth. The Bureau of Speakers is scheduled to reconvene in Arusha between late August and early September 2026 to conduct a final review of their Rules of Procedure.