Leaders commission road construction project in DR Congo

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi commissioned a construction project Wednesday for major road infrastructure in eastern DRC.

They also officially launched the Mpondwe Bridge, which connects Uganda to the DRC.

The road construction is to be funded by Uganda.

According to a statement released by Uganda's State House, Museveni crossed over to the DRC, where he met with Tshisekedi, and they launched the Mpondwe Bridge before commissioning the road infrastructure development project.

''The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are the same people. I thank President Tshisekedi for bringing Congo into the East African community,” Museveni said in his speech.

The DRC recently applied to become a member of the East African community.

For his part, President Tshisekedi said: “I thank President Museveni and Uganda at large for cooperating with us to construct roads in this area. I am sure the roads will help in developing the area and also improve on security.''

The engineer in charge of the road construction, Samson Bagonza, said three roads that will cover 223 kilometers (138.5 miles) will be built at an estimated cost of US$330 million.

Museveni recently defended Uganda’s funding of infrastructure development in the DRC, arguing that it was aimed at boosting trade between the neighboring countries.

The signing ceremony for the road construction was held on May 27, 2021 at Uganda's State House, Entebbe. Museveni signed the inter-governmental agreement on behalf of Uganda while Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula signed on behalf of the DRC.