Lawyer Phiona Rwandarugali has formally launched her bid for the East African Legislative Assembly, positioning herself as a uniquely qualified candidate with deep cross-border legal and personal experience. Rwandarugali, an advocate of the High Court in both Uganda and Kenya, is seeking a mandate to represent Uganda at the regional parliament.
She says her background as a child of the border from Kisoro district gives her firsthand understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing citizens living at the intersections of the East African Community.
The candidate, who is also qualified to practice at the East African Court of Justice, highlights her professional reach across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania as a key asset. She notes that her fluency in Swahili allows her to engage more effectively with regional stakeholders, citing Nelson Mandela’s philosophy on the importance of speaking to people in their own language to reach their hearts.
In her address to members, Rwandarugali expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for his strides in regional integration. She also recognized Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba for his role in de-escalating the 2019-2022 Uganda-Rwanda border dispute, which led to the reopening of the Gatuna/Katuna border points.
Rwandarugali’s legislative agenda focuses on strengthening regional integration, boosting trade, and promoting peace. If elected, she pledges to advocate for the fast-tracking of infrastructure projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway and enhancing digital connectivity across the region.
Her platform also emphasizes the empowerment of small and medium enterprises and women entrepreneurs. She aims to champion policies that simplify customs procedures, tackle non-tariff barriers, and enhance skills development to ensure that no East African is left behind.
She believes her experience as a former student leader of the East African Students Association and her membership in the East African Law Society and African Bar Association provide her with the necessary tools to advance the regional agenda.
Rwandarugali says she is ready to serve as a grounded representative who can help achieve a more united and prosperous East Africa by leveraging the region’s youthful population and natural resources.
See statement below
Hon. Members
I am humbled to stand before you, seeking your mandate to represent our country Uganda in the East African Legislative Assembly once again. We are at a pivotal moment. Our region is growing, but challenges persist. As we take to the ballot, let’s reflect on our achievements: a growing regional economy, improved infrastructure, and increased people-to-people ties.
Over the years my experience and passion to serve our people has increased. I still believe in making positive change once elected to represent my country in EALA for I understand the challenges of our people. As an advocate working across borders in Kenya and Uganda, I understand our shared challenges and opportunities.
Born of the borders and practicing law across the region, I have seen firsthand the potential of the need for regional integration. I personally continue to support our people on both a professional and personal basis across the region, oftentimes connecting different persons and professions in a bid to advance the EA agenda. I frequently make referrals to those seeking professional help and representation across borders since I understand the dynamics.
It is only a person of my experience, qualification, and skill that can drive true change across the region. I have on several occasions offered legal services to clients transacting business across borders, engaged in trainings in matters of law and practice for EA citizens in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and shared with them the need to advance the community’s agenda.
Given I can speak Swahili, it comes with ease as many of them prefer Swahili as their preferred language of communication. This gives me an advantage over the other candidates to lobby on a regional platform for not only Uganda but all EA countries as a whole. As Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
I take the opportunity to thank H.E. Y.K. Museveni for the great strides made for the benefit of our people within the community. I also recognize the contribution of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba for the key role played in de-escalating the 2019–2022 Uganda-Rwanda border dispute through improving relations, which led to reopening the border points at Gatuna and Katuna for the good of our people.
I stand at the country’s service and believe of all the candidates for the job, I stand as the most qualified. I am a child of the border from Kisoro district, which neighbors DRC and Rwanda, hence I share in both the opportunities and challenges of our people within and across borders.
I have attained an education both within and across borders and equally have had opportunities to work in three EA countries and lived in five of them. I am an advocate of the High Court of Uganda and the High Court of Kenya and all subordinate courts thereto, and equally qualified to practice at the East African Court of Justice.
I am a member of the Law Society of Uganda, the Law Society of Kenya, the East African Law Society, and the African Bar Association. I understand legislation very well and advocacy is not only my training but my practice. I doubt any other candidate has these unique qualities. I was a student leader of the EA Students Association and a leader during my study and stay in Kenya.
I believe I understand the region better than any other contestants for reasons that I have not only lived life across borders but come from one of the border points, have worked, studied, and practiced across EA countries. I have no doubt that H.E., being the chairman of the EA community summit, needs MPs of my kind to advance and advocate his agenda at EALA. He needs members who are qualified, experienced, and grounded; foot soldiers ready to advance the agenda of the community as there is still a lot to be done.
We have made strides, but we need to do more. My agenda once elected is as follows:
I will work to strengthen regional integration, boost trade, and promote peace.
I will fast-track infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway.
I will enhance digital connectivity.
I will empower SMEs and women entrepreneurs.
I will advocate and champion policies that simplify customs procedures.
I will enhance skills development.
I will tackle non-tariff barriers, boost manufacturing, and enhance trade.
I will champion policies that benefit all East Africans leaving no one behind, leverage my cross-border experience, and harness our collective potential.
It is when we advance such causes that our people will truly appreciate the objectives of the community. Let’s leverage our youthful population and natural resources to create jobs and prosperity for our people.
Vote Phiona Rwandarugali, and let’s build a stronger, united, and prosperous East Africa together.