Nebbi, DR Congo sign MoU to end war
Nebbi District assistant chief administrative officer Jesca Ongiertho (R) reads the Nebbi/Congo MoU before signing it in Mahagi District, Dr Congo last Saturday. PHOTO BY PATRICK OKABA
What you need to know:
The agreement was signed after the business community at the border between Uganda and DR Congo complained of harassment.
Congo-Authorities in Nebbi District and DR Congo have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at eliminating any forms of insecurity and violence that would destabilise peace and ensure smooth cross-border trade.
The peace agreement was signed at the administrative territory of Mahagi in Ituri province, DRC on Saturday.
The agreement follows complaints by businessmen who claim they had been harassed, arrested and detained without trials, lost property in hands of security men, especially from DR Congo.
The singing of the MoU was witnessed by top security officers from Nebbi and Mahagi territory and the administrative leaders of the two entities.
According to the Mahagi territory administrator, Mr John Bosco Esese, there was need to sustain and consolidate bilateral relations by holding regular joint cross border security meetings.
He added that there is urgent need for the regular sharing of information between the immigration centres of the two countries to avoid the entry of terrorists.
“We need information sharing on insecurity which can affect both business and lives of our communities by strengthening of our security system and monitoring,” Mr Esese said.
The border areas of Nebbi and DRC had been under contention especially when the Congolese authorities constructed an office at Agyero near Goli border. However, the authorities in Uganda and DRC want to improve bilateral relations.
The RDC Nebbi, Mr Martine Orochi, said insecurity at border points had paralysed business forcing many traders to change their business locations.
The traders have complained of numerous taxes charged on their goods by Congolese authorities but they have pledged commitment to harmonise the taxes.
“We need cross border trade made legal and with less taxes so that we can realise revenue to be used for the development of the communities. And we need to sustain this MoU through holding of joint regular conflict management meetings with business communities of Nebbi and Congo,” Mr Orochi said.
Nebbi District depends a lot on food stuff from DRC while Congolese buy most of their building materials and other items from Nebbi.
It was agreed that once there is smooth cross-border trade, this would increase the revenue base for Nebbi and Mahagi district in DRC.
