EALA awarded hosting rights for 2026 East African Inter-Parliamentary Games

By Emmanuel Sekago

The East African Community (EAC) Speakers’ Bureau has awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 East African Inter-Parliamentary Games to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), with the prestigious regional event set to take place in Arusha, Tanzania, in December 2026.

The decision was reached during a meeting of the EAC Speakers’ Bureau chaired by Kenya Senate Speaker Amason Kingi in Arusha, Tanzania.

The annual Inter-Parliamentary Games bring together Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff from the East African Community partner states, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, as well as EALA.

Initially, the Parliament of Tanzania had been scheduled to host the 16th edition of the Games. However, following extensive consultations and careful consideration by the Speakers’ Bureau, the hosting rights were transferred to EALA after Tanzania indicated that it would be unable to host the event due to a congested national and parliamentary schedule.

South Sudan was also considered as a possible host but informed the Bureau that it would not be in a position to organize the Games because of preparations for the country’s first post-independence general elections, which are expected to take place in December 2026.

Following the decision, the Bureau directed EALA to prepare and circulate an indicative budget to all national parliaments by June 26, 2026. The costs of hosting the Games will be jointly shared by the partner state legislatures to ensure the successful organization of the regional event.

Speaking after the announcement, EALA Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana welcomed the opportunity to host the Games, describing them as a key platform for strengthening regional integration and cooperation among East African legislators.

“The Inter-Parliamentary Games are a vital platform for promoting unity, friendship, solidarity, cultural exchange, and regional integration among East African legislators and parliamentary staff. Hosting them here in Arusha, at the heart of the Community, carries deep symbolic meaning,” Ntakirutimana said.

He noted that bringing the Games to Arusha, which hosts the headquarters of the East African Community, would further reinforce the spirit of regional cooperation and people-to-people engagement among the member states.

The Bureau also considered a proposal to have the East African Inter-Parliamentary Games held every two years instead of annually.

According to members, the proposal would improve planning, ease financial pressures on host institutions, and create more predictable arrangements for future editions of the competition.

The Inter-Parliamentary Games have over the years become one of the most important regional platforms for fostering camaraderie, networking, wellness, and collaboration among legislators and parliamentary staff across East Africa, while also advancing the broader objectives of regional integration.

With EALA now taking on hosting responsibilities, preparations are expected to begin immediately as the region looks forward to another successful edition of the Games in Arusha later this year.