The construction of the 223 km of roads in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo kicked off last week amidst fierce war against the Allied Democratic Force-ADF by the joint forces.
President Yoweri Museveni and his DR Congo counterpart President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi commissioned the construction in June during a ceremony held at Mpondwe, a border point between DRC and Uganda.
The roads to be built are Nebbi-Goli Mahagi-Bunia (190kms), Bunia-Bogoro-Kasenyi (55km) and Rwebisengo-Budiba-Buguma-Nyiyapandam, including Budiaba Bridge across River Semuliki (49km).
President Museveni recently said the projects will among other things stir huge socio-economic transformation of the lives of the countries and enhance security within the region.
It’s also clear that the construction of these roads shall boost war against negative forces within the borders between the two countries that could hamper the Lake Albert Oil Project.
Uganda will contribute 20 per cent of the total cost of the project as a measure to boost trade between the two countries.
Uganda and DR Congo have for long enjoyed bilateral relations but with the construction of roads, the diplomatic relations and engagements are considered cemented.
“I am very happy for His Excellency Felix who brought DRC in the East African Community, now you cannot talk about East Africa without talking about DRC,” President Museveni once said.
According to the Ministry of works and Transport-Uganda, the long term goal is an economic benefit for the two countries and generations to come leading to improvement of standards of living.
This is the latest initiative by President Museveni to enhance regional collaboration and spur diplomatic relations.
DRC is gradually replacing the Republic of Kenya and South Sudan as Uganda’s largest trading partner with trade volumes standing at $267m in export earnings as well as $177m in ‘informal’ cross border trade (the Gambia and UAE are top trade partners as well).