Gen Katumba Wamala says that besides the DR Congo roads, another project they are currently looking at which is yet to mature is the participation of Uganda in the road that will link Uganda through South Sudan to Ethiopia.
Uganda has plans to construct more roads in neighbouring countries as a means to boost trade.
This was revealed by the Minister for Works General Katumba
Wamala who was addressing journalists at the Government media centre on Tuesday
on the proposal that will see Uganda construct a road in Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC).
MPs and a section of the public have objected to the proposal
that will see Two hundred billion shillings in the supplementary budget earmarked
for Uganda's contribution to the construction of 223km of roads in the DRC.
This follows a bilateral agreement between Uganda and the DRC to implement
strategic infrastructure projects. This amount is Uganda’s contribution of 20%
of the roads project.
The total project cost is USD 334.5 million, therefore, Uganda’s
contribution amounts to USD 66.9 million (254 billion Shillings ). General Katumba Wamala who called the press conference to
clarify on the project said that the road construction will boost trade between
Uganda and the DRC but also enhance security.
Uganda's exports to DRC as of 2018 totalled to USD 533 million and
this is expected to more than double once the road has been constructed.
Asked by Uganda Radio Network(URN) if more of such projects
will be done, Katumba said that “we would love to link with all the other countries who would love to
link with us”. The Minister restated their intention to involve Uganda involving in more road projects outside of the country so as to ensure trade and development and bilateral cooperation among others.
He says that a project they are currently looking at which is
yet to mature is the participation of Uganda in the road that will link Uganda
through South Sudan to Ethiopia. Katumba, however, emphasised that the proposal was still at
concept note level. He says the arrangement is being promoted at the regional
effort for the states that link to each other.
//Cue in; “Do we intend…
Cue out…things remaining even.”//
Asked if the move to construct a road in DRC will foster
relations especially in line with the controversial 10 billion dollars debt
owed to DRC by Uganda for plunder, Katumba delinked the two, saying this is not the case, but it
would be a good thing if the countries relations grow stronger due to the road
construction.
