EAC Technology Commission To Seat In Rwanda

East Africa Community (EAC) Science, Technology Commission will have its headquarters in Rwanda following the apparent spirited efforts to turn the country into the technological hub in the region.

This was approved by the bloc’s sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for the Community Affairs and Planning in its three-day meeting that ended on Friday in Zanzibar.

The Council also approved quota system in the recruitment of staff in its organs and institutions. The system is to strike poise in hiring proficient staff from all EAC member states.

“The ministers agreed that Burundi and Rwanda will, host institutions under the EAC,” a press release from the Arusha-based EAC Secretariat read in parts.

“The sectoral ministers also agreed that a verification exercise would be carried out for purposes of advising the Burundi government on the details of the requirements for hosting the EAC Health Research Commission,” the statement added.

Kiswahili Commission was given to Tanzania which is the regional role in the promotion of the language, that is widely spoken in the region and beyond.

The officials from the EAC partner states also decided that a review of the existing criteria for hosting EAC organs and institutions would be undertaken to ensure among others; an equitable distribution of the organs and that such criteria shall guide all future hosting of the institutions.

According to the decision made in the meeting, all EAC member countries are now hosting some regional organs and institutions.

Currently, Uganda hosts four organs, while Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda are hosting one regional organ each.

Arusha is the headquarters of the Community and its three organs; the Secretariat, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

Institutions located in Uganda are the East African Development Bank (EADB), Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) and the Civil Aviation Security and Safety Oversight Agency (Cassoa).