EALA Boss Demands EAC Democracy Reset, Hails Speaker Oboth’s Leadership
During the visit, Ntakirutimana also congratulated Oboth on his election as Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament on May 25, 2026, praising him for what he described as an accessible, humble and down-to-earth leadership style.
KAMPALA — The East African Community (EAC) has been challenged to rethink and align its democratic and governance systems if the regional bloc is to achieve faster economic transformation.
The call was made by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Speaker Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana during a high-level courtesy visit to Parliament Speaker Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth at Parliament Buildings in Kampala.
Ntakirutimana argued that differences in democratic systems across EAC Partner States could complicate the bloc’s efforts to pursue a common regional development agenda.
“As the EAC, we need to develop faster by aligning our democratic systems. What is democratic to the Democratic Republic of Congo may not necessarily be true to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, or Kenya,” Ntakirutimana said.
He said East Africa needs strong and decisive leadership capable of accelerating development beyond its current pace.
“We need strong leaders who can push the development effort to move much faster than it is moving right now,” he said.
The EALA Speaker’s remarks come as the EAC continues efforts to deepen regional integration through political, economic and institutional cooperation among Partner States.
During the visit, Ntakirutimana also congratulated Oboth on his election as Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament on May 25, 2026, praising him for what he described as an accessible, humble and down-to-earth leadership style.
“When a friend is blessed by God, you have to celebrate,” Ntakirutimana said.
He described Oboth as a leader who does not allow his position to distance him from ordinary people.
“You are a man who doesn’t care about titles; you live simply, are humble, and open-minded,” he said.
Ntakirutimana further praised Oboth for remaining accessible, saying he could call or send him WhatsApp messages and receive an immediate response.
The EALA Speaker also credited Oboth for surrounding himself with young people who, he said, were ready to support his leadership.
“You are equally blessed to have vibrant young people around you who are willing to work for you,” he said.
Beyond the political niceties, the visit also focused on strengthening cooperation between EALA and Uganda’s national Parliament.
Ntakirutimana pledged EALA’s legislative, policy and information support to Parliament, stressing the importance of close collaboration between the regional assembly and national legislatures.
In response, Oboth thanked Ntakirutimana for the visit and pledged continued cooperation between Uganda’s Parliament and EALA.
“As the Parliament of Uganda, we will be there to keep the cooperation going, and we give assurances of our highest consideration of this offer of support,” Oboth said.
The two Speakers further committed themselves to strengthening bilateral inter-parliamentary relations.
Oboth also confirmed that he will attend the upcoming EAC Bureau of Speakers meeting, scheduled for October in Arusha, Tanzania, where regional parliamentary cooperation is expected to take centre stage.
The meeting comes at a time when the EAC is seeking to deepen integration across a region whose member states operate under different political, electoral and governance systems.
Ntakirutimana’s call for greater alignment therefore places democratic governance among the wider questions facing the regional bloc as it seeks to transform East Africa into a more integrated political and economic community.
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