WEST NILE – Ugandan’s local investors and young entrepreneurs in the West Nile region have described the hindrance in the cross-border trade between Uganda and DR-Congo is due to insecurities and poor road networks.
They said, much as DR-Congo signed a treaty to become part of the East Africa Community [EAC] last week, the two countries are left with a number of tasks to be fulfilled in order to promoter cross border trade due to the poor status of roads, and the prevailing insecurities in the DR-Congo which has hindered the progress of cross-border trade between the two countries.
This was revealed by local investors operating in the West Nile region and across DR-Congo during the West Nile Investment Summit and the launch of the Industrial Park held over the weekend that was graced by the Chief Guest, the Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija in Nebbi district, Ovoru village in Nyaravur -Angal town council.
One of the local investors who is the proprietor of Rock Global Oils Limited Uganda Mr Vincent Okaba says, due to the poor state of the road from Karuma to West Nile region up to DR-Congo sides; the local investors spend much of their profits in servicing their heavy trucks transporting their goods to DR-Congo which is affecting their profits.
He said their businesses are not only being affected by the bad state of roads in Uganda but there is also insecurities from DR-Congo which have left a number of trucks transporting goods to DR-Congo getting burnt by Lendu militias and items worth billions of shillings getting looted which calls for the Congolese’s government to work on insecurity since they joined the EAC.
“Our cross-border businesses between Uganda and DR-Congo are being hampered by both poor state of the roads and insecurity in the DR-Congo which has affected our profit margin, and this has pushed most of our local investors out of the business,” Okaba said.
He adds that for the last 10 years, the President pledged to improve good road networks in the West Nile sub-region from Karuma geared to boost trade and trade up to border Congo but nothing had been achieved and yet when it comes to politics, they are the first to campaign for the National Resistance Movement [NRM] party using their own monies.
Other local investors in the region the likes of Mr Kermundu George, Ms Hope Ann, Emmanuel Zzwadi and Bob Oyoma said, they are more likely to be pushed out of the business if the road network and insecurity in DR-Congo are not harmonized and yet DR-Congo have joined the EAC for the business partnership.
Mr.Bob Oyoma, the producer of wine in Parombo town council says, they are all targeting market potentials in DR-Congo but, if the security and road network are not managed, the integration will lose its meaning and calling upon the two countries for smooth business opportunities after the treaty
However, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija while commissioning the Industrial Park in Nebbi district said, government has already awarded rehabilitation works on black spots of Pakwach -Nebbi roads and soon his ministry will look for other funds for tarmacking 14kilometres road from Nebbi -Goli custom road.
“The roads and security are easy things to be worked on, since DR-Congo has joined us officially as our new son but, he encouraged the local investors to pay taxes to ensure that the Ugandan government partners with the Congolese government to ensure that roads and security are worked on,” Kasaija said.
According to Patrick Mutongo who headed the delegations from DR-Congo in the recent West Nile Investment Summit held in Nebbi district over the weekends said, it’s time to act and promote international trade for the benefits of East African Community [EAC] and there is need to harmonize the insecurity differences which hinder cross border trade within the region.
He says, the roles of Uganda as a country are so much reflected in DR-Congo and since Congo is a business hub to EAC, the two countries need to promote good governance to tap some of the available business potentials to promote regional investments.
“Talk investment in the region and it’s the first time to see men walk on the moon and this was a long overdue dream by the Congolese government to ensure that they are integrated to EAC for good business potentials for the sustainable economy,” Mutonge said.
Mutonge added that roads from Nebbi to Ituri province in DR-Congo is the priority road for business investment and said if the road is tarmacked, the cost of doing business will be brought down in DR-Congo there would be business collaboration in partnership with Uganda from the West Nile region.
Ms Evelyn Anita the State Minister for Privatization, Finance and Investment has urged Congolese businessmen to use west Nile region as their doorposts in conducting their businesses since the issue of roads and security will soon be worked on by the Ugandan’s government.
“We are all one people but the confusion on boundaries were caused by our colonial masters who never wanted us to love one another, let’s join hands and develop our region,” Anite said.
https://thecooperator.news/lango-sub-region-mps-demand-reconstruction-of-roads-network/
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