East Africa parliament Speaker congratulates Tanzania president Suluhu on re-election

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East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana has congratulated Tanzania’s President Samia Hassan Suluhu upon her re-election.

Ntakirutimana extended the gesture during plenary in Kampala city on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

It should be noted that Uganda is hosting the regional bloc’s Parliament from Monday, November 24, 2025, to Friday, December 4, 2025. After which, a summit of the eight Heads of State will convene in Nairobi on December 6 this year for high-level discussions on a litany of pressing matters.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the President, Her Excellency Samia Hassan Suluhu, on her re-election as President of the United Republic of Tanzania in the recent General elections,” he said.

Her Excellency Samia Hassan Suluhu, President of Tanzania. (AFP)

Suluhu took oath on November 3 this year after garnering a historic 97.6 per cent landslide victory in a contest which lacked formidable challengers.

Her main rival, Tundu Lissu of the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), was arrested in April this year and charged with treason at the height of his nationwide “No Reforms, No Election” campaign.

Since then, Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a failed assassination attempt eight years remains behind bars.

That notwithstanding, the election was unusually marked by deadly protests never before seen in the country, which for decades has been a beacon of tranquillity in the East African Community (EAC).

The kind of election, Kenyan politician Gitobu Imanyara, described as deeply concerning in a local Kenyan newspaper.

“Beyond, let’s be honest, nobody gets 98 per cent of anything in a real democracy. Not in a country of millions, not when people have real choices. And that’s the core of this story. There were no choices in Tanzania. The opposition was not defeated; it was dismantled,” Imanyara opined.

The former Central Imenti lawmaker and founder of the iconic Nairobi Law Monthly, further warned, “the hollowing out of democracy is the greatest political tragedy of our time. It is not just that leaders cling to power; it is that citizens are beginning to lose faith in democracy itself.”

It should be noted that Suluhu has been in office since March 19, 2021, when she replaced John Pombe Magufuli, who died in office.

EALA MPs chip in

Despite the international community expressing concern with the manner in which Tanzanian polls were held, to EALA lawmakers such as Jacqueline Amongin, it appears that this is secondary.

During the sitting in Kampala on Wednesday, Amongin, who formerly represented Ngora District as Woman MP before switching levels, moved a motion to congratulate Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Emphasising that it would be prudent to do so, this being their first sitting since the chaotic polls.

“She has been an inspiration to the young women in the world. Being among the first African women in the office of the presidency…” Amongin moved.

She was seconded by Makame Hasnuu from Tanzania, among others.

“Especially when women rise to the top, it is a pride for those women who never thought that they would ever assume any office.  You know the history of Africa as a continent; our presence has been in the kitchens. When a woman on the soil of Africa rises to the office of the presidency. I think it is very imperative for all of us to celebrate, despite other constant factors,” she argued.

“In the whole of Africa, in this age, in this age, I think I have only heard about Her Excellency Johnson Sirleaf from West Africa. I have also heard of Joyce Banda from Malawi, and the only one who followed is Samia Suluhu of the Great United Republic of Tanzania. And that is a big statement for the young people, young girls aspiring for higher offices in the world,” Amongin added.

Further pointing out that in her opinion, Suluhu has done quite a lot in her first time as President.

"The fact that she has re-assumed that office it is not a mean achievement, especially for a woman. Because in most circumstances, the office of the presidency, most especially, is for men. Because there are a lot of stereotypes when a woman assumes a big office. Therefore, to me, it is a big celebration," Amongin stated.

“When you look at the eight member countries of East Africa, we have eight member states, but with one female president. Please let's applaud the President of the United Republic of Tanzania,” she observed.

Debate adjourned

However, debate on the motion was adjourned to another yet to be determined date after Uganda’s other EALA representative, Mary Mugyenyi, rising on procedure, said the motion, given its importance, ought to be given substantial weight by debating it when they are well prepared.

“So that members can prepare themselves, do enough research, contemplate on the achievements of this great lady of East Africa and come and make a substantial contribution to this motion. But when it comes by surprise on the floor of parliament, I think this parliament has not given it the substance it deserves,” Mugyenyi raised.