Two agreements namely the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), and Project Development Agreement (PDA), which will facilitate the construction & upgrade of 223 kilometers of roads linking Uganda & the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been signed by the governments of the two African nations. 1
The IGA was signed by President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda and Chrisrophe Lutundula Apala, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of DRC, while the PDA was signed by Alexis Gisaro Muvunyi, the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works of DRC and Bageya Waiswa the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works & Transport of Uganda.
The project, the cost of which is estimated at US$ 334.5M, covers the Mpondwe/Kasindi- Beni road (80 Kilometers), the Bunagana- Rutshuru- Goma Road (89 kilometers), and the integration of the Beni-Butembo Axis (54 Kilometers). 2
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It will be co-financed by the governments of Uganda and the DRC. Uganda’s contribution, which accounts for 20% of the total budget, has been adopted by the Parliament of the East African country since last year.
Boost to trade between the two countries
The signing of these Agreements follows the State visit to Uganda by Felix Antionè Tshisekedi the president of the DRC from 9th – 10th November last year but one, when he and his Ugandan counterpart emphasized the importance of developing cross-border infrastructure which is essential to facilitate trade between the two countries. 3
The East African country exports to the Central African country sugar, rice, beer, wheat flour, cookies, and cosmetics amongst others while on the other hand, the DRC exports iron, pearls, mineral fuels, wood, charcoal, rubber, and others to Uganda.
However, despite the lucrative business opportunities between the two nations, trade has been hampered by the poor road network.
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