Rwanda has confirmed it will not feature at the 10th East Africa Inter-parliamentary games in Kampala slated for December 8th to 18, 2019.
The confirmation was communicated in a press briefing at parliament today by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, ahead of the opening ceremony scheduled for tomorrow.
The competition brings together participants from the six member states’ national parliaments, and the East Africa Legislative Assembly-EALA.
In her statement read to the press by Usuk County MP Hon. Peter Ogwang, Kadaga said Rwanda notified the Ugandan Parliament about their absence, but without any reason.
“Without giving reasons the national parliaments of Rwanda and South Sudan have indicated that they shall not be taking part in the Kampala edition of EAC games” Kadaga said.
The Speaker said the new development comes despite having sent invitations to all EAC member states. She said only Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi have confirmed their participation at EAC games in Kampala.
The suspicion that Rwanda may skip this years’ games arouse when its representatives skipped all preparatory meetings both in Dar-Es-Salam, Tanzania, and Nairobi in May and August respectively. Without stating reasons, Rwanda was also a no show at the last preparatory meeting in Kampala last week.
Hon. Peter Ogwang however, downplayed reports that Rwanda’s nonattendance could be linked to the frosty relationship between governments in Kampala and Kigali which stretched to the latter closing its border early this year.
Hon Ogwang said member states may not be able to participate due to financial constraints, or any other reason. He however noted that is is important for member states to participate because the purpose of games is to strengthen collaborations, and widen cooperation between national parliaments as well as establishing networks for citizens among others.
Rwanda were conspicuously absent as the East African Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games in Burundi’s capital Bujumbura last year. Rwanda’s absence in Burundi was widely perceived as a manifestation of the sour relations between Bujumbura and Kigali since 2015.
The participants will engage in Football, Netball, Basketball, Golf, Darts and Athletics.
The games will take place at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende, Lugogo Indoor Stadium and Kampala Capital City Authority –KCCA’s Phillip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo.
