President Uhuru Kenyatta, of the Republic of Kenya has replaced Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame as chair of the East African Community summit for 2022.
Last year, President Kenyatta became the seventh Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), a partnership of African Heads of State and Government advocating and mobilising resources in the continent-wide fight against malaria.
The East African Community leaders also appointed Kenya’s Peter Mathuki, as the next Secretary-General.
Two new judges were also appointed to the East African Court of Justice, a regional Court that litigates on treaties of the East African Community.
President Paul Kagame in his capacity as outgoing chair of the Summit, convened the meeting which held virtually on Saturday February 27, 2021.
Rwanda’s Richard Muhumuza was named to the EACJ first instance division while Anita Mugeni will sit on the bench of the court’s appellate chamber.
Other judges to the court First Instance Division include Justice Nestor Kayobera, Justice Yohane Bakobora Masara , Justice Kathurima M’inoti and Justice Richard Wabwire Wejuli to the court’s Appellate Division.
Justice Kayobera emerged as judge president of the court, Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire as the vice president, Justice Masara as principal judge and Justice Audace Ngiye as Deputy Principal judge.
The judges replace Justice Dr Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, Justice Liboire Nkurunziza, Justice Aaron Ringera, Lady Justice Monica Mugenyi, Justice Dr Faustin Ntezilyayo, and Justice Fakihi Jundu. They were acknowledged by the Summit for their selfless service to the community.
Among the items on the agenda are: consideration of the request by the DR Congo to join the EAC, and progress report on the verification exercise for admission of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which had submitted its application in February 2012. The EAC currently comprises Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.