The Ugandan government is set to construct two roads crossing into DR. Congo’s territory.
Uganda’s Cabinet approved the project that will involve the construction and upgrading of two roads whose sections will extend into DR Congo.
The roads referred to in this project are Kasindi-Beni inside DR Congo, which will extend to the Butembo Axis (54kms) and the Bunagana–Ruchuru-Goma Road.
According to Cabinet, these roads will benefit the government and people of Uganda by bringing about economic interconnectivity.
This would provide improved mobility and ease of business; improved people to people interconnectivity in the two countries; improved security in the eastern DRC; and increased (enhanced) trade and investment.
Last year, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo agreed to jointly construct 1,200 kilometers of roads.
The project includes the 24 kilometers Bunagana-Goma road that runs to Rutshuru in DR Congo; a 977 kilometers road from Mpondwe border post in western Uganda to Beni in DR Congo and a 180 kilometers road from Goli in northern Uganda to Beni.
DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and Uganda President Yoweri Museveni signed the agreement at the first Joint Business Forum held at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
The need for better road infrastructure between the two countries came to light early this year when Rwanda closed its border with Uganda.
This slowed movement of goods as hundreds of trucks bound for the eastern DR Congo town of Goma through Cyanika border post were re-routed to Bunagana border post
