In an effort to promote cross-border trade and integration of the East African Community, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have decided to do away with the need for visas for their residents.
Okello Oryem, Uganda’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, stated that discussions between the two nations preceded the decision.
“Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Yoweri Museveni have both played a significant role in advancing this.” Our people will be able to travel between the two countries with more freedom as a result, Oryem stated.
Official figures show that Uganda made $241 million in trade surplus with the DRC in 2020. Add to that an estimated $177 million in exports of informal goods, and the total amount of trade earnings comes to $418 million.
Uganda’s main exports to DRC are cement, palm oil, rice, sugar, refined petroleum, baked goods, cosmetics and iron materials.
