KAMPALA – Cabinet has approved the construction and upgrading of two roads whose sections will extend into DR Congo.
The roads in question are Kasindi-Beni inside DR Congo. The same road will then extend to the Butembo Axis (54kms).The other is Bunagana–Ruchuru-Goma Road.
According to Cabinet, these roads will benefit the government and people of Uganda through the economic interconnectivity.
This would provide improved mobility and ease of business; improved people to people interconnectivity of 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 kilometres of roads.
The project includes 24 kilometres Bunagana-Goma road up to Rutshuru in DR Congo; a 977 kilometres road from Mpondwe border post in western Uganda to Beni in DR Congo and a 180 kilometres 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.
