NTOROKO – In a bid to boost trade between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Works and Transport has constructed Ntoroko Lakeport.
Located at the shores of Lake Albert in Kanara town council, Ntoroko Lakeport and estimated to have cost $3.2 million [about Shs 11.2 bln] links Uganda to Kasenyi port in DRC through Lake Albert.
Ntoroko is nothing more than a pier and a sloping area giving access to the lake where trucks are unloading their dry and wet cargo for shipping on Congolese wooden boats that take 3 hours to cross lake Albert and do the reverse operation in Kasenyi the port on the DRC side from where a road of about 48km was recently upgraded by Monusco to Bunia.
The Minister of State for Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama says, the port has been constructed solely to boost trade between Uganda and her neighbour DR Congo.
He says the port will create jobs for the local population and improve their businesses.
“A lot of business will come here, so people need to be sensitized about this development. This area is also going to develop because of this port” he says.
He further says, since Congo has now joined the East African Community, it will further strengthen ties with Uganda and the East African Community region hence necessitating improved border infrastructure to facilitate the movement of people and goods.
Byamukama cautioned people not to use porous borders to buy substandard goods from DRC.
“Using porous borders can cause problems because you may bring in substandard goods or you may bring in poisonous goods. You can even get problems on the way so please avoid it” Byamukama warns.
The Director Transport in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Benon Kajuna says since the main objective of the port is to improve trade, he appeals to the public to maintain the facility very well.
He urges people crossing to and from DRC to ensure they put on life jackets for their safety.
“Safety is very important so while on water, you need to ensure you put on a life jacket” Kajuna emphasizes.
The Ntoroko district Chief Administrative Officer [CAO], Anslem Kyaligonza says, the kind of transformation at Ntoroko port is beyond imagination and it will improve revenue both locally and nationally.
“This development will not only improve trade between the two countries but also lead people from subsistence economy to middle-income economy” Kyaligonza says.
He noted that there is a lot of cross-border business between Uganda and DRC, this will connect traders to DRC.
“I have ever been to Bunia in DRC and all the merchandise sold in their shops is from Uganda and most people there speak Runyoro-Rutooro, therefore I am certain that this infrastructure will increase cross-border trade” he says.
Road network
With all the exports through Ntoroko to DRC, the Ntoroko district Chairperson, William Kasoro wonders why the Uganda National Roads Authority [UNRA] has not tarmacked the road connecting Karugutu to Kanara.
Kasoro says, more than 100 trucks /trailers transporting exports to DRC use a 51Km road from Karugutu to Kanara on a monthly basis.
“When I see government tarmacking cassava roads, leaving out such a road that helps in transporting exports, I wonder. It is in a very bad state which needs urgency for the smooth running of businesses” he says.
He says most exports to eastern Congo pass through this road before reaching the port.
He also says the road was earmarked under oil roads, others were worked on but 10 years down the road Karugutu-Kanara road is still in a terrible state.
“About 90 percent of people were compensated thou others are still pending but I know what is remaining is very simple” he says.
Byamukama says, UNRA’s mandate is to maintain these roads but the challenge was funding.
He however said recently the president directed the government to look for funds and work on that road.
“Government through my ministry is looking for funds and next financial year, this road will be worked on” he says.
Facts
Ntoroko Lakeport is located on the shores of Lake Albert between Uganda and DRC. It only deals with transit goods from Busia, Malaba, Kasese and Kampala towards Bunia in DRC.
DR Congo is a key trading partner for Uganda, with exports including both manufactured goods and agricultural goods. Furthermore, informal trade between Uganda and DRC is high.
Ntoroko port only deals with transit goods from Busia,Malaba,Kasese and Kampala towards Bunia.
They exit about 140 to 214 trucks a month, mostly dry cargo and about 2 to 3 oil tankers which are being ‘dipped ‘ meaning manually emptied into 340 barrels of 210 litres each which are then rolled onto the wooden boats
Imports are few; besides empty Ugandan beer bottles returned to the brewery in Mbarara, some timber, mahogany wood, and motorcycles are coming by boat to Uganda.
Currently, large lorries, some with trailers, drive down to the water’s edge where they are off-loaded by hand, carried by operatives along the jetty and loaded into small cargo boats.
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