Uganda, DR Congo sign new co-operation, development pact
The communique signed on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Caritas Hotel in Mahagi town in DR-Congo follows the mid-April meeting between leaders of: Buliisa, Nebbi, Pakwach and Zombo districts.
Lt. Gen. Taban Amin, the delegation head of Uganda and Col. Col. Disanoa Lalua Jacques, the delegation head Mahagi DR Congo exchange the joint security meeting documents in Mahagi town. (Photos by Robert Aria)
By Robert Ariaka
Journalists @New Vision
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A Government team Led by Lt. Gen. Taban Amin, the chairperson of the border monitoring committee for Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda have signed a joint communique with their counterparts in Mahagi territory in Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the signing events, Member of Parliament for older Persons in the northern region, Akumu Catherine Mavenjina who is the liaison officer between the four districts and neighbouring Mahagi territory in DR Congo informed the participants on the strategic objective of the meeting which is to foster unity, peace, security, cross border cooperation and development within the two states.
The communique signed on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Caritas Hotel in Mahagi town in DR-Congo follows the mid-April meeting between leaders of: Buliisa, Nebbi, Pakwach and Zombo districts.
The objective of the April 14-15 meeting in Nebbi was to foster unity, peace, security, cross-border cooperation and development within the two countries.
The meetings were co-chaired by Lt. Gen. Taban Amin head of the Ugandan delegation and Col. Disanoa Lalua Jacques, the Administrator of Mahagi territory and head of the DR Congo delegation.
Dring the mid-April meeting, the state minister for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Kabyanga Baluku, pledged commitment to peace and security to DR Congo and Uganda particularly the Eastern DR Congo borders with Uganda.
L-R Robert Abak, Lt. Gen. Taban Amin, Akumu Catherine Mavenjina and Col. Disanoa Lalua Jacques and other members from Uganda and DR Congo in a group photo after the security meeting.
On Monday, Lt. Gen. Amin hailed what he described as a "calm and peaceful" environment along the borders with good working relations among the people of Uganda and Eastern DR Congo.
Amin reaffirmed the presence of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces UPDF in DR-Congo and South Sudan who have been deployed to ensure peace and security.
Col. Lalua, the administrator of Mahagi territory and head of the DR-Congo delegation reaffirmed the good relations which exist between the two states under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and President of DR Congo Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.
He reported good cooperation and collaboration between UPDF and the FARDC forces specifically in the current ongoing operations in Ituri province inside DR Congo.
Nebbi Resident District Commissioner Robert Abak said we are here in the spirit of Pan Africanism and we need to know that we are brothers and sisters.
"At whatever cost, there must be peace in Mahagi and Ituri in Mahagi. The team before you is a well-organised team appointed by President Museveni to work with the team in DR Congo to restore peace in Africa. We share a lot, ranging from culture, tribe, intermarriage and we need to speak the same language of peace and transformation," Abak said.
Festus Ayikobua, the RDC Zombo appealed for levelled ground for business and to make movement easy for the two communities. Some people want to use the border for the wrong things and this team should manage such.
Some people will want to hide in DR Congo and Uganda after committing crimes but the security should be able to handle such situations for peaceful living.