Plans are underway to create joint laws which will govern elections in all East Africa countries, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Mr Eriya Kategaya, has said.

Mr Kategaya told journalists in Kampala yesterday that the East African Community (EAC) secretariat is formulating electoral practices which will apply in all member states. He added that this is being done to fast track the political federation of East Africa.

"The secretariat has already been organising meetings with electoral commissions of different countries which form the EAC. They are trying to look at what are the best electoral laws which can work in both countries," Mr Kategaya said.

Once the process is finished, Mr Kategaya said, the EAC secretariat will table broad electoral regulations, tackling issues of electoral malpractices and, consequently reduce election-related violence.

Election violence

Most EAC member countries, especially Kenya and Uganda have experienced violence resulting from unfair electoral process.

In Kenya violence erupted following the December, 2007 disputed elections.

In Uganda evidence of vote-rigging were reported during a presidential poll in 2001 and 2006, which pitted President Museveni, against Dr Kizza Besigye.

The opposition have called for the overhaul of the entire Electoral Commission which they accuse of being 'partisan'.