Col Disanoa Laula (right), the head of Mahagi territory gifts UPDF’s Gen Taban Amin with Congolese brand beer (Primus) after signing the cross border deal
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Cross border trade between Uganda and DR Congo had experienced a hit due to civil strife and military insurgency.
The state of affairs prompted the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to announce the diversion of Uganda export cargo at the border posts of Katuna and Cyanika in the Democratic Republic of Congo to alternative routes.
In a memo dated March 3, 2025, and signed by Asadu Kisitu Kigozi, URA’s commissioner of the customs department, the tax body stipulated that the internationally recognized that Goma (final destination to Cyanika) and Bukavu (final destination to Katuna) were no longer under the control of the central Government of DRC.
It’s against this background that the governments of Uganda and DRC signed cross-border peace agreement, which is aimed at mitigating the cross border crimes and controlling illegal entry of goods into the countries was signed.
The pact, signed in Mahagi territory, in the Eastern Ituri Province on Monday 5th May,2025, the two governments agreed to fight insecurity at the porous borders that is threatening peace and security of both countries. It is also hoped that the pact is one of the steps to end war in Eastern DRC and return peace and tranquility in the region.
Gen Taban Taban Amin, the deputy director general for special operations in the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), signed on Uganda’s behalf, while Col Disanoa Laula, the administrator of military affairs in Mahagi Territory, Eastern Ituri Province of DR Congo signed on behalf of the DRC.
Speaking after the signing, Gen Taban Amin says, it’s time to show respect to each other in maintaining and restoring peace and avoid repeating colonial errors of divisionism.
Signing of the agreement
He added that the peace deal signed between the districts that are bordering DR Congo will minimize petty-petty crimes associated with gun robberies. It will also deter the theft of animals which distort good relationships. As a result, security will be monitored jointly at the borders.
“We shouldn’t be worried about cross-border crimes anymore, because we have become one people from today due to this peace agreement. As a member state of the East African Community (EAC), we should focus on Pan –Africanism for socio-economic transformation”, Taban said.
Col Disanoa Laula, urged the two parties to respect the peace deal in order to spur trade and commerce, and for diplomatic relationships between Uganda and Congo to flourish.
He said the signed peace agreement on peace and security documents will be handed over to top leadership on both sides for ratification.
Uganda’s exports to DR Congo have been growing over the years, rising to about $433.2m (nearly Shs2 trillion) between December 2023 and November 2024, which is a growth of 40 percent from the $258.3m (Shs955b) earned in the same period between 2019 and 2020.
The signing was witnessed by Catherine Akumu Mavejjina, the Member of Parliament for elderly persons in Northern Uganda.
