Members of the East African Community have been reminded to expedite the process of amending their laws in order to comply with the region’s Common Market Protocol for their people to maximize the benefits of this trade arrangement.

Speaking ahead of the 4th session of the East African Legislative Assembly starting tomorrow at the Uganda Parliament in Kampala, the Speaker of the regional Parliament Margaret Zziwa noted with concern that member states have been slow to harmonize their domestic laws with the provisions of the protocol.

Asking the concerned ministers in the respective counties, Zziwa reminded member states that the regional Laws take precedence over their domestic laws and therefore they ought to harmonize the two in order for the citizens to benefit from the regional Integration.

The Ugandan Minister in charge of the East African Community Affairs, Shem Bageine revealed that after assessing the provisions of the Common Market protocol, his ministry has is in final stages of presenting several relevant bills to Parliament in order to harmonize the regional and domestic laws.

The Ugandan Parliament has already enacted a new law on insolvency that conforms to the common Market protocol and it is also looking immigration laws.

The opening of the East African Legislative Assembly slated for tomorrow at the Ugandan Parliamentary Chambers will be presided over by President Yoweri Museveni .