Leaders in Kisoro Call on Parliamentary Committee to Address Volatile Situation in Eastern DRC

Leaders in Kisoro district have jointly raised their voices requesting the parliamentary committee on East African affairs to study the volatile situations in Eastern Democratic republic of congo and push for the long-lasting solutions at the top level.

Their submissions were made on Wednesday 18th September as they hosted the committee in Kisoro district.

The committee of Esat African community affairs led by its chairperson Dr. Buturo James Nsaba, a member of parliament representing Bufumbira East made are on their oversight duties that started on 17th September and scheduled to end on 20th September as they visit Katuna, Bunagana, Kyanika and Mirama hills.

In their maiden interaction with district leaders, they depicted their consternation on the worrying situations in Eastern Democratic republic of congo as it is the biggest threat to the borderline communities.

The Kisoro Deputy RDC Robert Tukamuhebwa, District Internal security officer Sam Mwesigwa and the district secretary for social services who represented the district LCV chairperson all sought for intensive watch on the region’s volatility through East African community systems. Tukamuhebwa also beseeched for a common currency to ease transactions 

Responding to the leaders’ concerns, Lucy Akello, a member of parliament representing Amuru district on FDC ticket and a shadow minister for East African community in the parliament thanked the president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for bearing the great vision of uniting the entire region. 

“If all the regional leaders can emulate the president of Uganda, we can register success faster”, Akello said.

Subsequent to Akello’s comments was the committees’ vice chairperson Shatsi Musherure Kutesa, a member of parliament for Mawogola North who thanked district leaders for the wise thoughts about the region issues at hand. She however shown her optimism in listening to the local people’s concern in regard to the regional integration.

She guided leaders to ensure teaching of Kiswahili Language in local schools to ease communication amongst member states.

The team later on headed to Kyanika border and held a meeting with the Business community, Immigration officials, Uganda revenue authority, security officials and community leaders.

The Kyanika town council Mayor Sanyu Erasmus noted that there’s a registered improving working relations after the reopening of the border in 2022. Kfm understands that the Rwanda’s relation run sour for above two years since 2019.  Sanyu added that the operations at the border improved after covid-19 that had paralysed the entire business at the border.

The Immigration in-charge Rosette Barigye Nuwamanya also said that despite inadequate facilities at the border, there are executing their duties diligently. Her surprising facts also shown that some people crossing the borders disguise the purpose when applying for Visas, a factor that has made Uganda register inevitable losses.

Unlike Bunagana side where leaders decried volatility in Eastern DRC, the traders and customers clearing agents at Kyanika disparaged about tariffs, non-tariff barriers and bureaucracy involved in transacting the business in Rwanda. The business community chairperson one Sam revealed that some agricultural produce in Rwanda such as beans are restricted from being exported to Uganda. Similarly, Mugisha Robert, a customs clearing agent revealed the bureaucratic tendencies involved in the business transaction in Rwanda that involves attainment of Export Licence from the ministry of trade in Uganda and again acquiring a certificate from National Agricultural export development board of Rwanda (NAEB) and go ahead to register for electronic billing machine (EBM) in Rwanda so as to be able to import from Rwanda.

Bestowing Mugisha’s remarks, quotas are also administered on some imports.

Conclusively the committee chairperson Dr. Buturo James Nsaba assured of changes as a result of integration and ensured mutual understandings between the partnering member states.