Regional lawyers draft mutual agreement to allow cross border legal practice in East Africa

Kigali, Rwanda: Regional lawyers have drafted a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) towards allowing cross border legal practice in East Africa.

The document will allow lawyers from the region to offer professional services with ease in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Zanzibar.

The outgoing East Africa Law Society (EALS) President James Aggrey Mwamu said that the document will be ratified by members before getting a nod from regional Governments.

The MRA follows consensus by the Law Society of Kenya, Tanganyika Law Society, Uganda Law Society, Burundi Bar Association, Rwanda Bar Association and Zanzibar Law Society.

Mr. James Mwamu said that the MRA will kick start cross border legal practice in line with the East African Community Protocol.

“The Agreement is to fast track offering legal services within the region before the East Africa Legal Assembly (EALA) debates on the Cross Border Legal Practice Bill,” Mr. Mwamu said.

Mwamu was speaking during the EALS Annual General Meeting at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday.

Lawyers from the region passed a resolution that the MRA be deliberated upon before implementation at an AGM scheduled for Zanzibar next year.

“Bar Associations from the region should circulate the MRA to lawyers within 15 days to give their comments within 30 days before tabling in the next AGM in Zanzibar,” Mr. Mwamu said.

The outgoing EALS Vice President Mr. Stephen Musisi said the MRA followed an AGM resolution in Mombasa last year that the Council facilitates a cross border legal practice framework.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Chairman Mr. Eric Mutua confirmed that LSK was part of the process in negotiating the process of the MRA.

“The MRA will make it easier for lawyers within the EAC to get a Practicing Certificates to offer legal services across the borders,” Mr. Mutua said.

Mr. Mutua said that regional Bar Associations (Law Societies) held a meeting in Dar E Salaam, Tanzania and unanimously resolved to circulate the MRA to members.

Uganda Law Society President Ms. Ruth Sebatindira and her Tanzania counterpart Mr. Charles Rwechungura said they also participated in the MRA process.

Zanzibar Law Society President Mr. Awadh Ali Said said that they are in support of the MRA arguing that their domestic laws are friendly to cross border.

Rwanda Bar Association (RBA) Batonnier (Chairman) Mr. Athanase Rutabingwa and his Burundi counterpart Mr. Gabriel Sinarinzi said they also participated and support it.