South Sudan is expected to pay close to $8 million to the EAC as part of its contribution to the annual budget of the regional bloc, the Presidential Advisor on Economic Affairs has said.

The EAC’s 2016/2017 budget is about $100 million.

O the 3^rd of June, the East African Community Legislative Assembly tabled and passed a budget of Financial Year 2016/2017 totaling $101,374,589, an amount slightly lower than last year’s, which stood at $110,660,098.

Mr Aggrey Tisa Sabuni says the six member-states have received their budget allocations totaling to USD $47,565,377 and the remaining amount of over $53 million will be generated from donations from development partners, and other miscellaneous revenue sources of the economic bloc, including the General Reserve Fund to facilitate the activities and projects of the secretariat throughout the financial year.

“So the budget that will be contributed by the six partner states is $47million. That amount must be equally contributed by the member states, and since the partner states are now six, including South Sudan, its means this amount will be divided by six.  It comes to $7.8m, approximately 8million,” Mr Sabuni explained.

“This amount of $8 million for the EAC has to be factored in the budget so that South Sudan will be able to contribute its share to the secretariat. Once that amount goes to the secretariat, it will be spent on many things like the court of justice, the assembly, the secretariat, and so forth.”

Mr Sabuni says although South Sudan has delayed to pass its national budget, it will not affect the remittance of this amount of money, because the financial year starts from 1 July 2016 and states are expected to pay their budget allocations within the 12 months period.

“But they are recommending, not a must, that, to enable the secretariat not to run out of money, in order for it to operate and plan smoothly, it would be good if the member states complete budget allocations by November, so you can pay a portion in July, August, September then complete it by November,” he added.

The East African Community budget for this year is themed towards “Full implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol and enhancing the implementation of the Monitory Union Protocol”.

Under this, priorities have been given to the full implementation of the EAC single customs Territory and enhanced implementation of the EAC Common market Protocol through additional commitments and inter-connectivity of border immigration systems.

South Sudan became the 6^th and newest member of the East African Community in April during the 17^th extra-ordinary Summit of the heads of state of the member countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.