The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has called on Ugandans to prepare for the vast opportunities arising from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) admission into the East African Community (EAC). During her address to Parliament, Kadaga highlighted the potential benefits of DRC’s integration into the regional bloc, urging quick and targeted investments in infrastructure to tap into these prospects.
Kadaga explained that with DRC’s accession, the EAC now has a combined population of over 300 million people, offering a significantly expanded market for goods and services. This, she emphasized, would enhance trade and regional connectivity, linking the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. “As a result of DRC joining the EAC, we now have a stronger regional trade corridor, which will enable smoother movement of goods and people into the hinterland,” Kadaga stated. She pointed out the need for urgent investments in roads and infrastructure to make the most of this opportunity.
Kadaga also addressed the linguistic shift that the DRC’s membership brings. As a predominantly French-speaking country, DRC’s inclusion will introduce French as one of the official languages of the EAC, alongside Kiswahili and English. She noted that non-French speaking countries in the community would need to implement strategies to teach and use French as a part of their operational activities. “The EAC will now officially use French, Kiswahili, and English as the working languages. The non-French speaking member states must take the necessary steps to integrate French into their official processes,” she explained, adding that she would table a Cabinet Memorandum on how Uganda will implement this new directive.
The Minister further acknowledged that the integration of DRC would require additional financial resources to support the Ministry of East African Community Affairs in engaging with DRC’s integration efforts and leveraging the new market opportunities. Kadaga assured that she would present a Cabinet Memorandum outlining Uganda's strategy to capitalize on the DRC market.
Several MPs raised concerns regarding Uganda’s readiness to fully benefit from the DRC’s admission. Butebo District Woman MP, Agnes Ameede, highlighted the potential for Uganda to export services, such as English language teachers, to the French-speaking DRC, urging the government to explore these possibilities. Nakawa West MP, Joel Ssenyonyi, expressed concerns about barriers to the free movement of goods and labor within the EAC, referencing issues that have persisted since the launch of the Common Market in 2010. He called for solutions to remove these restrictions and asked for tax incentives for local manufacturers to enhance Uganda’s production capacity for export within the region.
Bukooli County Central MP, Solomon Silwany, raised the issue of the closed border with Rwanda, questioning how Uganda would avoid similar situations with DRC, given the strong relationship between Uganda and Rwanda. He sought clarity on how Uganda planned to maintain open borders and improve regional cooperation. Kumi Municipality MP, Silas Aogon, called for increased budget allocations to the Committee on East African Affairs and the Ministry of East African Affairs to ensure Uganda fully capitalizes on the integration process.
The Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, urged the government to launch a sensitization campaign to help Ugandans understand the opportunities created by DRC’s membership in the EAC. He emphasized that such awareness would prevent misunderstandings and promote unity, drawing a parallel with challenges faced by black people in South Africa who sometimes view their fellow Africans as threats to their survival.
In response to the concerns raised, Kadaga expressed appreciation for the MPs' feedback and assured the House that she would work on addressing the issues raised. She reiterated her commitment to presenting the Cabinet Memorandum on Uganda's strategy to tap into the DRC market, aiming to ensure that Uganda remains competitive and fully involved in the ongoing integration process.
As Uganda prepares for the opportunities ahead, Kadaga’s call for investment and strategic planning underscores the potential for growth and enhanced regional cooperation with DRC’s integration into the EAC.
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