Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s Ministry of Change, Industry, and Cooperatives has this present day formally launched the Uganda-DRC Quiet and Resilient Borderlands Programme that objectives to transform immoral-border commerce as a pathway for peace and financial boost.
With toughen from the EU Delegation in Uganda and implementation partnerships with TradeMark Africa and International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the programme seeks to promote regional integration, empower small-scale merchants, and be particular the free circulate of alternative folks and items between the 2 worldwide locations, no topic of the continuing battle and war.
Francis Mwebesa, Minister of Change, emphasized the importance of infrastructure pattern and empowering females as key brokers in fostering safe, appropriate border commerce. “Regional integration is the backbone of enterprise transformation,” he popular. He additionally known as for funding in border management systems and collaborative policies to construct particular sustainability.
TradeMark Africa’s Nation Director, Anna Nambooze highlighted the market more than a few—over 300 million other folks in the grief—and reaffirmed the group’s focal level on constructing peace resilience and supporting grassroots merchants. Within the meantime, the EU Delegation representative underscored the urgency, pointing to 6.9 million displaced other folks in the Gargantuan Lakes grief and the prefer to deal with unlawful commerce, human security, and social inclusion.
Earlier this present day, the Minister of Change, Industry & Cooperatives @FMwebesa1 officiated on the start of the ‘Uganda -DRC Quiet and Resilient Borderlands Programme’ that objectives at enhancing immoral border Change between Uganda and DRC.@TradeMarkAfrica @EUinUG @mia_uga @DCICUg
/1 pic.twitter.com/hJzZv8pCch— Ministry of Change Ug (@mtic_uganda) June 19, 2025
The IOM Chief of Mission in Uganda, Sanusi Tejan Savage reaffirmed its purpose in safeguarding the circulate of alternative folks across borders, referencing the June 15 milestone of the important thing programme start in the DRC. From the panel dialogue, public-non-public partnerships and stronger immoral-border neighborhood toughen were emphasized, especially by the Uganda Earnings Authority, which cited revenue losses from illicit commerce.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Change, Lynette Bagonza emphasized that the programme aligns with the ministry’s strategic needs: to cast off non-tariff boundaries, diversify exports, make institutional capacity, and promote worth addition.
Stakeholders known as for joint efforts attractive DRC officers, beautiful visa policies, and multilingual engagement to construct particular small merchants, particularly females, are now no longer left on the support of.
The implementation will peep an enchancment in infrastructure & the creation of an enabling environment for immoral-border commerce.
DRC is one of Uganda’s biggest regional export markets. Nonetheless, the continuing battle has affected the commerce btn the 2 worldwide locations.
