The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has elected the inaugural leadership of the East African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (EAPNAC) — a landmark step in the region’s efforts to build a united, transparent, and accountable governance framework.
Rwandan legislator Clement Musangabatware was elected as the first President of EAPNAC, alongside a diverse executive team drawn from all six member states of the East African Community (EAC).
The election, held during a special EALA session in Arusha, Tanzania, marks a pivotal moment in the regional fight against corruption — one of the most persistent challenges undermining public service delivery and economic growth across East Africa.
The newly formed EAPNAC aims to enhance cooperation among East African lawmakers to strengthen oversight institutions, harmonize anti-corruption laws, and foster greater accountability across national parliaments.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Musangabatware emphasized that corruption remains one of the greatest threats to regional integration and public trust in governance.
“Our mission is clear — to strengthen collaboration between parliaments, empower oversight committees, and ensure that corruption no longer finds refuge behind political borders,” he said.
“We want to make integrity the new currency of East African leadership.”
The creation of EAPNAC follows the 2024 EALA Summit on Good Governance, which called for the formation of a parliamentary mechanism to coordinate anti-corruption efforts across the bloc.
Each EAC member state — Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo — will have two representatives in the network, ensuring balanced participation and inclusivity.
According to the EALA Speaker, Joseph Ntakirutimana, the network will serve as a critical watchdog and policy think tank within the legislative arm of the EAC.
“EAPNAC will be the glue linking our national parliaments in the war against corruption,” he said. “Its formation is not symbolic; it’s a commitment to safeguard the public purse for the people of East Africa.”
Alongside Mr. Musangabatware, the leadership team includes:
• Hon. Beatrice Anywar (Uganda) – Vice President
• Hon. Mohamed Abdi (Kenya) – Secretary-General
• Hon. Jacqueline Nshimirimana (Burundi) – Treasurer
• Hon. Mary Achieng (Tanzania) – Public Outreach Chair
The new leadership outlined a five-point action plan for its first year:
1. Launch of the EAC Anti-Corruption Charter by mid-2026.
2. Creation of a regional parliamentary oversight scorecard to track transparency.
3. Establishment of a whistleblower protection framework across EAC member states.
4. Development of capacity-building programs for MPs on fiscal accountability.
5. Annual East Africa Integrity Forum to review progress and best practices.
Despite consistent growth, corruption remains a major obstacle to the EAC’s integration and development goals.
According to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, most EAC states scored below 50 out of 100, reflecting ongoing struggles in public procurement, judicial integrity, and revenue collection.
Analysts believe EAPNAC could help align anti-corruption laws with regional standards, similar to the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC).
“This initiative could bridge the implementation gap between good laws and weak enforcement,” said Dr. Angela Mutesi, a governance expert at the University of Dar es Salaam. “Regional parliamentary oversight can apply the peer pressure needed to sustain reform momentum.”
Kenyan MP and anti-graft advocate Hon. Mohamed Abdi called the election “a historic step toward restoring citizens’ confidence in governance.”
“When parliaments lead by example, citizens will follow. This is about reclaiming integrity as a shared East African value,” he noted.
Civil society organizations, including Transparency International Kenya and Accountability Watch Uganda, also welcomed the move, urging EAPNAC to collaborate closely with anti-corruption commissions and audit offices in each country.
EAPNAC’s first official meeting is expected to take place in Kigali next month, where members will adopt the network’s constitution, set operational priorities, and define mechanisms for regional cooperation.
Mr. Musangabatware affirmed that the fight against corruption will require courage and cross-border collaboration:
“We know the task ahead is enormous, but we owe it to the next generation to build an East Africa where integrity, not impunity, defines public service.”
