By The Arusha News Reporter
The East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers has proposed a budget of USD 109,338,151 for the 2025/2026 financial year compared with USD 103,800,000 in fiscal 2024/25, roughly a modest USD 5,533,151 rise in expenditure to fund the bloc’s operations.
The budget will now be scrutinised by the General Purpose Committee, to ensure that it was in line with the EAC ideals, which should take place within 14 days. The committee shall then come up with a report that will be laid before the Assembly by its chair to be considered and debated before the budget is approved. Usually, member states contribute equally about 60 per cent with the remaining 40 per cent of the budget coming from development partners.
According to a source who spoke to The Arusha News, the EAC Secretariat is set to receive the largest share – USD 55.2 million – highlighting its pivotal role in driving the regional integration process. EALA and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) have been allocated USD 20.5 million and USD 5.06 million, respectively, in order to fulfil their legislative and judicial responsibilities within the bloc.
Significant allocations have also been directed towards sectoral commissions and development institutions. The Inter-University Council for East Africa will receive USD 10.8 million, while the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation are set to receive USD 7.6 million and USD 2.4 million each, to support environmental and ecological sustainability efforts.
Other tranches shall go to: The East African Science and Technology Commission (USD 2.2 million), the East African Kiswahili Commission (USD 1.64 million), the East African Health Research Commission (USD 2.35 million) and the East African Competition Authority (USD 1.53 million).
The budget underscores the Community’s commitment to deepening regional integration through investments in research, education, health, legal harmonisation and environmental conservation. The entire budget process adheres strictly to the provisions of Article 132 of the Treaty establishing the EAC that underscores equal contributions from members. Other recipients come from regional and international donations.
Sources hinted that EALA was likely to raise concerns over persistent delays in contributions from partner states, which have disrupted programmes and projects in the past. “We also plan to question why the outgoing budget ran short of funds, forcing legislators to skip some sessions,” the source added.
The EAC budget for the 2023/2024 financial year stood at USD 103.8 million, up from USD 91.5 million in the previous year. The principle of equal contributions was intended to avoid some partners viewing themselves as the “Big Brother,” as it happened before when fees were based on a nation’s economic muscle.
