President Museveni with other officials at the commissioning of phase one of the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha border market and Mpondwe One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Kasese district yesterday. PHOTO/PPU
President Museveni believes that the Mpondwe one-stop border post, commissioned on Wednesday December 21 will ease trade between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The market which we launched down there must be used now,” the President said, adding that crossing within East African countries should be cost free with no visas required. “If that is the case, I have removed it,” President Museveni said.
He added: “The reason we had stopped markets was because of Corona but a few weeks ago I made a National Address and said we had opened the country and we’re now emphasizing immunization. So, the border is now open, our emphasis is now on immunization.”
The Mpondwe OSBP on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo, border is part of the Great Lakes Trade facilitation project supported by the World Bank to increase trade and remove movement barriers that small-scale traders face in their quest to access the DRC market.
In March last year, construction works of the project were launched with Government officials noting that upon completion, the OSBP will help Uganda double export earnings from DRC improve competitiveness and remove trade barriers.
With the existence of OSBP, trade ministry officials said, Uganda can double her export earnings from the current level of $2.3b if ‘we facilitate trade, diversify exports, improve the competitiveness of our commodities and remove trade barriers with our neighbours’.
According to government officials, Uganda’s trade with DRC has progressed over the years, with Ugandan exports to DRC currently amounting to $338m.
Exports through Mpondwe majorly comprise agricultural produce (beans, maize, millet, sugar, fish and banana) and industrial products. ;
Last year, President Museveni and his DRC counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi, also met at the Mpondwe border and commissioned the construction of 223km of roads to connect the two countries.
According to Museveni, the roads, Nebbi-Goli-Bunia, Bunia-Bogoro-Kasindi and Rwebisengo-Budiba-Buguma-Nyiyapandam, Beni-Butembo, Bubagana-Rutshuru-Goma and the Budiaba Bridge across River Semuliki, signify the true spirit of East Africa.
Trade state minister Harriet Ntabazi said the other project, Mpondwe border export zone, will promote investment through public-private partnerships.
Uganda’s trade with DRC has progressed over the years with the country’s export to DRC now amounting to over $300m
Export through Mpondwe majorly comprises agriculture produce and industrial products.
The ceremony was attended by among others State Minister for Local Government Hon. Victoria Rusoke, State Minister of the East African Community Hon Magode Ikuya, religious leaders and officials from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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