KAMPALA: Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga the minister of East African affairs in Uganda has warned neighboring country DR Congo about their failure to honor the Visa agreement with Uganda. In October 2023, Uganda and DR Congo signed an agreement.
The purpose of this agreement was to remove fees for nationals of both countries while entering each other’s territory. After the signing of this agreement, Dr Peter Mathuki the secretary general of the East African community praised it saying that it was going to foster development in many ways.
Where people are allowed to move freely across national borders, trade volumes will go up. In addition to the increased trade, we are bound to witness free movement of labor, cultural exchange and domestic tourism in East and Central Africa.”
“The lifting of the visa restrictions will further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Uganda and DRC, ultimately benefiting the entire East African region,” Dr.Peter Mathuki the secretary general of the EAC said at the moment.
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This agreement made Uganda the third country after Tanzania and Kenya to allow DR Congo citizens to enter their countries freely. Whereas Uganda is honoring this agreement, DR Congo seems not to respect this agreement.
A Ugandan national raised the issue on social media and said that they don’t know why Ugandans are asked to pay one hundred dollars before entering DRC. However, Congolese nationals freely access Uganda. Rebecca Kadaga said that she had notified her Congolese counterparts to honor the end of the deal. If not, Uganda will be forced to revoke the agreement.
“I have informed the DRC authorities that if they do not conform to the agreement, we shall reinstate the Visa payments for their Citizens,” said the former Speaker of Parliament.
The East African Community is made up of 7 countries. These are Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and DR Congo.
