The governments of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has inked two agreements; Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), and Project Development Agreement (PDA), which will facilitate the construction and upgrade of 223 kilometers of roads linking the two countries.
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.
Poor road network.
The project 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). The project cost of US $335million 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.
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.
