DAR ES SALAAM (Tanzania): The 21st Extraordinary meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers ended today at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), Tanzania with the EAC Council of Ministers considering and adopting the Budget of the East African Community for the Financial Year 2010-11.

The Budget, amounting to US$ 59,963,040, comprises a US$ 30,748,370 contribution by Partner States; US$ 29,141,051 by the Development Partners; and US$ 73,620 from miscellaneous income. The Budget is to be referred to the East African Legislative Assembly for debate and approval.

The Council of Ministers meeting, which was chaired by Hon. Dr. Diodorus Kamala, Minister for East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, was attended by Hon. Ezekiah Chibulunje, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Development of the United Republic of Tanzania; Rt. Hon. Henry M. Kajura, Uganda's 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Service; Hon. Khiddu Makubuya, Uganda's Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs; Hon. Aston P. Kajara, Minister of State for Investment (Uganda); Hon. Fred Mukisa, Minister of State for Agriculture (Uganda); Hon. Namuyangu J. Byakatonda, Minister of State for Water (Uganda); Hon. Tabu Abdallah Manirakiza, Burundi's Minister of Planning and Reconstruction; Hon. Amason Kingi, Kenya's Minister for the East African Community and his Deputy Hon. Peter Munya; and Hon. Monique Mukaruliza, Rwanda's Minister for EAC Affairs together with Hon. Kamanzi Stanislas, Minister for Environment and Lands.

Amb. Juma V. Mwapachu, Secretary General of the East African Community; Dr. Julius Tangus Rotich, Deputy Secretary General (Finance and Administration); Hon. Wilbert Kaahwa; Counsel to the Community, Permanent Secretaries and senior officials from the Partner States were also in attendance.

The Council noted that majority of the Partner States had cleared their outstanding contributions to the Community for the FY 2009/2010 as at 28 April, 2010 and the rest were in advanced stages of remitting the balances.

The Ministers directed the Secretariat to develop a comprehensive proposal for the increase in per diem rates for the Executive Staff, Speaker, Judges, EALA Members and Professional and General Staff applicable to travel within East Africa, Africa and outside Africa for its consideration.

The Council approved a US$ 1,500 increase in the basic monthly salary for EALA Members from the current US$3,300 to US$4,800 and approved allocation of US$ 1,047,892 to cater for the increase in the Members' salary. The Council referred the proposed basic salary for EALA Members of US$ 4,800 to the Summit for consideration and approval. The Council directed the Secretariat to prepare a mechanism for salary review and submit it to the 21st Meeting of the Council for consideration.

The Council approved the recruitment of suitable candidates for some posts in the General Staff category and deferred the establishment of additional positions and upgrading of existing positions to support the expanded workload of the East African Legislative Assembly until the on-going comprehensive institutional review was concluded.

The Council considered and adopted the consolidated key documents for the proposed 9th Extra Ordinary Summit on Food Security and Climate Change. The key documents include; EAC Food Security Action Plan, EAC Climate Change Policy, the Draft Extra-Ordinary Declaration on Food Security and Climate Change and the Terms of Reference for the development of modalities for establishment and operationalisation of the EAC Climate Change Fund.

The Council directed the EAC Secretariat to work with a team of experts from Partners States to develop modalities for establishment and operationalisation of the EAC Climate Change Fund by the end of this year.

The EAC Council of Ministers is the Policy Organ of the Community and consists of the Ministers responsible for the East African Community Affairs of each Partner State and such other Ministers of the Partner States as each Partner State may determine.

Among its functions, the Council promotes, monitors and keeps under constant review the implementation of the programmes of the Community and ensures the proper functioning of the regional organisation.