The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, has officially launched the Uganda-DRC Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme. This initiative aims to transform cross-border trade into a pathway for peace and economic growth.
Supported by the EU Delegation in Uganda and in collaboration with TradeMark Africa and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the programme seeks to promote regional integration, empower small-scale traders, and ensure the free movement of people and goods between the two countries, despite ongoing conflicts.
Honourable Francis Mwebesa, the Minister of Trade, emphasised the importance of infrastructure development and the empowerment of women as key agents in fostering safe and legal border trade.
He stated, “Regional integration is the backbone of economic transformation,” and called for investment in border management systems and collaborative policies to ensure sustainability.
Anna Nambooze, the Country Director of TradeMark Africa, highlighted the market opportunity presented by over 300 million people in the region. She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to building peace resilience and supporting grassroots traders.
A representative from the EU Delegation stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that there are 6.9 million displaced people in the Great Lakes region, alongside the need to address illegal trade, human security, and social inclusion.
Sanusi Tejan Savage, the IOM Chief of Mission in Uganda, reaffirmed the organisation’s role in safeguarding the movement of people across borders, referencing the milestone of launching the first programme in the DRC on June 15.
During the panel discussion, participants emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships and stronger support for cross-border communities. This was particularly noted by the Uganda Revenue Authority, which reported revenue losses due to illicit trade.
Ms Lynette Bagonza, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, stressed that the programme aligns with the ministry’s strategic goals: to remove non-tariff barriers, diversify exports, build institutional capacity, and promote value addition.
Stakeholders called for collaborative efforts involving DRC officials, equitable visa policies, and multilingual engagement to ensure that small traders, especially women, are not left behind.
