OATH OF ALLEGIANCE NOW MANDATORY FOR EAC STAFF

 

The Oath of Allegiance, now mandatory for the staff of the East African Community (EAC), is under implementation.

A senior official of the regional organization last week took an Oath before assuming office under the EAC Oaths Act,2019. 

Previously only the Judges of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), the Parliamentarians and senior executives were subjected to the process. 

However, under the EAC Oaths Act, 2019, the staff of the Community organs and institutions will be mandated to the process. 

Ms Christine Mutimura-Wekesa took the Oath as the Deputy Registrar of EACJ, the judicial organ of the Community. 

The exercise is now mandatory to all newly-recruited or elevated staff and, according to one official, is aimed to improve ethics.

Similarly persons giving evidence before the regional Court and quasi-judicial bodies will have to swear Oath of Affirmation.

The Bill followed amendments of the EAC Staff Rules and Regulations which until then excluded the rest of staff from Oaths of Affirmation.

However, under the Act, only specified officials are required to administer the Oath depending on the position to be assumed.

Those with Oath administering authority are the Registrar of the Court, Clerk of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) and Counsel to the Community (CTC). 

The latter is the principal legal advisor of the EAC and third ranked in the Secretariat's hierarchy after the secretary general and deputy SGs.

However, the swearing in of the SG and his/her deputies, Eala Speaker, EACJ Judges and Registrar and CTC is taken before the Summit.

Ms Wekesa took the Judicial Oath during a special session held at the EACJ Appellate Division courtroom held at the EAC headquarters.

The swearing in was presided over by the President of the Court Justice Nestory Kayobera in what seemed to be a new order for officials assuming office.

Before her new appointment, Ms. Mutimura previously served in the EAC Secretariat as senior legal officer under the principal legal advisor.

As a Deputy Registrar, she will work under the Registrar of the Court in judicial functions as well as administrative functions.

Speaking after the swearing in, Judge President Kayobera said that the Court would uphold its independence while serving East Africans.

This, he said, would ensure adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty. 

The 45 year old Wekesa has also previously worked with the ministry of Justice in Rwanda as well as the defunct International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR).