AMECEA" is an acronym for "Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa". It is a service organization for the National Episcopal Conferences of the eight countries of Eastern Africa, namely Eritrea (1993), Ethiopia (1979), Kenya (1961), Malawi (1961), Sudan (1973), Tanzania (1961), Uganda (1961) and Zambia (1961). Somalia (1995) and Djibouti (2002) are Affiliate members.

It was founded in 1961 and its first Chairman was The Late Adam Cardinal  Kozlowiecki, S.J.; and Rev. Killian Flynn, OFM Cap as its first Secretary General.

The supreme authority over all AMECEA's activities rests with the Plenary Assembly of all the Bishops of the eight countries. The Plenary Assembly takes place every three years, with the venue rotating from one country to another within the region covering the countries concerned and 16 of them have been held since the foundation of AMECEA.

AMECEA is one of the ten regions of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).

The Cardinals in the region are Honorary Patrons. They are:

•  Polycarp Cardinal Pengo (Tanzania)
  Emmanuel Cardinal  Wamala (Uganda)
  Gabriel Cardinal  Zubeir Wako (Sudan)
• John Cardinal  Njue (Kenya)

The current office bearers (Executive Board) are:

• Archbishop Tarcisio G. Ziyaye, Chairman (Malawi)
  Bishop Kidane Yebio (Eritrea)
• Bishop Tesfaselassie Medhin (Ethiopia)
• Bishop Philip Sulumeti (Kenya)
  Bishop Isaac Amani (Tanzania)
  Bishop Daniel Adwok (Sudan)
  Bishop Joseph M. Zuza (Malawi)
  Bishop Emmanuel Obbo (Uganda)
  Bishop Paul Duffy (Zambia)
  Rev. Fr. Pius Rutechura, Secretary General