Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s export earnings from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rose to over $800 million in the 2024–2025 financial 365 days, based on the Ministry of Alternate. This performance comes whatever the continued closure of several key border points by the DRC executive.
Crossings at Bunagana and Kitagoma in Kisoro District, and Ishasha in Kanungu District, remain shut following the capture of areas in North Kivu Province by the March 23 Motion (M23) insurrection team. After M23 rebels seized Goma Metropolis in North Kivu, the DRC also suspended trade by contrivance of Rwanda.
This decision blocked items transiting by contrivance of Uganda-Rwanda border points similar to Katuna in Kabale District and Chanika in Kisoro District. As a result, the most appealing operational and apt trade border points between Uganda and the DRC are Mpodwe in Kasese District and Goli in Nebbi District.
Despite these constraints, Uganda’s Minister of Bid for Alternate, Industry, and Cooperatives, David Bahati, confirmed the nation earned bigger than $800 million in exports to the DRC for the length of the last financial 365 days. Though Bahati did no longer dispute how great Uganda misplaced in export earnings for the length of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said trade with the DRC has rebounded strongly. The key exports driving this relate include metal, soap, maize, meat, and milk. Bahati remains optimistic that continued peace-constructing efforts between Uganda and the DRC will extra give a enhance to trade household between the two countries.
Earlier this month, Uganda and the DRC jointly launched two predominant initiatives aimed at bettering balance and trade at some stage in their shared border: the Strengthening Rotten-Border Cooperation, Stabilization, and Border Resilience program and the Tranquil and Resilient Borders program. Funded by the Global Group for Migration (IOM) and the European Union, the $25 million applications will doubtless be utilized in Ituri Province in the DRC. They goal to promote stable and clear migration, give a enhance to unsuitable-border movement, and give a enhance to transportation infrastructure to lower logistics charges and enhance trade.
****
URN
