Kisoro leaders back Museveni on DRC road project

POLITICS |INFRASTRUCTURE

Kisoro leaders have supported the proposed construction of three roads in DR Congo by Uganda government, saying the projects are crucial for the country's trade and development targets.

Former ethics and integrity minister and MP Bufumbira East, Dr James Nsaba Buturo said the DRC was a big trading partner for Kisoro and Uganda generally.

 " I support the construction of these roads by the government wholeheartedly…it's the right move because easing access to the Eastern DR Congo market will help improve earnings and livelihoods of our people," he said.

The Government has already signed a bilateral agreement with the DRC to implement strategic infrastructure projects.
While speaking during the 58th Independence Day celebrations President Yoweri Museveni said, the roads seek to boost trade in order to enable Uganda get resources.

However, some MPs and public members were not happy with Uganda's contribution (estimated at $334.5m) to the construction of 223 kilometres of roads in the DRC, saying some parts of the country are inaccessible. However, Buturo says Uganda will benefit much more from supporting the projects.

"I believe that Uganda will be able to recover that money in a short period through improved trade volume and investment," said the MP while addressing reporters after he was nominated to contest for the Bufumbira East County seat on the NRM ticket on Friday October 16.
 
He urged industrialists to establish factories in Kisoro to produce the trade goods that Congolese buy from Kampala and elsewhere. "This will also create jobs for our people and boost the economy. Therefore, those against the move must be misinformed and do not understand clearly how Uganda stands to reap from this venture," he added.
 
Rose Kabageni,the Kisoro Woman MP, thanked the President for thinking about the venture, arguing that when your neighbour is having problems you too can't be okay.

She said that the proposed roads in DRC would help improve trade and investment between Uganda and the mineral-rich Central African country, when the road projects are finally implemented.

"I will support the proposal when it is brought to Parliament for approval because Kisoro will be one of the first districts to benefit from this project," said Kabageni, who is vying  for the Kisoro district Woman MP seat as an Independent candidate.

The MP added that the roads, when built, would give Ugandans new opportunities, explaining that the Rwanda border closure since late February, 2019 had affected the country's export earnings. She said the livelihoods of border districts like Kisoro that depended on the Kigali market had been affected.

Bufumbira South parliamentary contenders, Hon Sam Bitangaro (Independent) and Eng Alex Niyonzima (NRM) said the proposed construction of roads in Eastern DR Congo serves Uganda's interest in terms of trade and investment.

"When I am elected Bufumbira South MP, I will work with concerned ministries and leaders to see that more projects like the one proposed by the President are undertaken since we are the biggest beneficiaries," said Niyonzima.

He added that better trade with DRC means improved household incomes and standards of living for Kisoro residents.