EALA participates in community work in Ngozi district / President Pierre Nkurunziza in attendance

BUJUMBURA, Burundi, November 28, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Members of EALA yesterday participated in constructing the new Ngozi District headquarters in a day-long initiative of community work (Ibikorwa Rusangi) in Ngozi district, 144 kilometres north of Bujumbura.

The occasion was graced by the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, H.E. Pierre Nkurunziza who participated together with the EALA Members and citizens in collecting bricks and mixing concrete and ballast to construct the headquarters. Ibikorwa Rusangi is carried out every Saturday. The activity is geared towards community participation in development projects as a way of contributing to the development of the nation.

Construction of the new building began this year and is expected to be completed next year. President Nkurunziza later handed over gifts to EALA and thanked them for participating in the event. He said as a people's Assembly, EALA needed to continue engaging with different stakeholders at different levels.

The EALA Speaker presented an EALA Award to H.E. Pierre Nkurunziza in recognition of his contribution to the regional integration. “I present this award to you in honour of your contribution to ensuring the integration process is on track. The achievements realised so far can partly be attributed to your leadership and that of the other Members of the Summit”, the Speaker said.

“EALA presents the same awards to your colleagues at the Summit: President Jakaya Kikwete (United Republic of Tanzania), President Paul Kagame (Rwanda), President Mwai Kibaki (Kenya) and President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda). Your Excellency, we ask you Sir to present the awards to the rest of the Summit Members on our behalf”, the EALA Speaker added.