This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
The 10th edition of the East African Community Inter-Parliamentary games kicked off on Monday, December 9, 2019, in Kampala, Uganda.
Parliaments from member states and the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) are competing in sports activities including football, netball, volley ball, and tug of war.
According to Eala Speaker Martin Ngoga, the 10-day event aims to strengthen inter-parliamentary relations and serve as a key sensitisation tool.
"I would like us to be mindful that the Inter-Parliamentary games have a great bearing beyond competition as it is also a key sensitisation tool," said Mr Ngoga.
Uganda's Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga urged competitors to share and learn from each other in efforts to deepen cooperation in the region.
However, Rwanda and South Sudan are not represented in the games, with the Ugandan Parliament Club chairman Odonga Otto citing a lack of confirmation or cancellation from the Rwandan Parliament.
Uganda and Rwanda's relations have soured early this year, with Rwanda accusing Kampala of arbitrary arrest and torture of Rwandans in Uganda, and Uganda claiming that Kigali is deploying spies in the country and infiltrating its internal security.
