Use borders to expand business - Museveni

Welcome. Mothers Union members welcome President Museveni at St Paul’s Church, Nyangalia Parish in Koboko District last Saturday. PPU PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Issue. Leaders say boarder business in Koboko has been affected by insecurity in South Sudan and DR Congo.

Koboko.

President Museveni has advised the people of Koboko to ensure they exploit the closeness to the border of South Sudan and DR Congo in order to expand their business.
Speaking during the fundraising ceremony of St Paul’s, Koboko Archdeaconry in Nyangalia Parish, which is being constructed in memory of the third Archbishop of Uganda, Silvanus Wani, Mr Museveni said:
“The people of Koboko are lucky because they border three countries. The colonial borders divided our people but we believe in unity of Africa. We want African leaders to work to remove these borders because they stop business. So use your proximity of being at the borders to increase business.”
Lately, border business has been destabilised and insecure, especially at Oraba border point as the South Sudan rebels are manning the security.
The President, however, noted that government will ensure stability and safety for those involved in border business.
“On our side, there is peace but on the other side it is insecure. But I can assure you that nobody will destabilise the peace of our country because we have a strong army,” the President emphasised.
A Bank of Uganda report shows that Oraba, the dominant border for Uganda’s informal exports in 2009 accounted for $324.29 million (about Shs1.175trillion). This was an increase by 8.7 per cent from the previous year.
However, in 2010, there was a decline to $72.18 million (about Shs261.74billion) of the total informal exports.
After signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 in Sudan, several Ugandans and other foreign businessmen flocked South Sudan for the lucrative business.
To date, the South Sudanese rely on goods from Uganda but the insecurity along Oraba-Yei Road has greatly affected business.
The Koboko Municipality MP, Ms Evelyne Anite, said business among Koboko, South Sudan and DR Congo traders has been affected because of insecurity in those countries. “Our people are ready to do business but currently business is stifled. We need to have the peace in these two countries for business to prosper,” Ms Anite said.
The President also offered to contribute Shs1.1 billion towards the construction of the church.
To alleviate poverty from their households, Mr Museveni encouraged residents to practice piggery, grow mangoes and coffee, and fish farming projects.
He also pledged to ensure that the Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo and Arua-Yumbe-Moyo roads are tarmacked, as this remains the only debt for the people of Koboko and those in neighbouring districts.