Uganda and DRC launch Borderlands Programme to boost trade, peace and regional integration

June 19, 2025 in Business, Trade & Industry by Editor

Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have jointly launched the Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme, a landmark initiative aimed at transforming historically volatile border regions into engines of peace, trade, and regional integration.

Spearheaded by Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, the programme, is supported by the European Union Delegation in Uganda and jointly implemented by TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Its goal is to turn border areas between the two countries into hubs of legal, inclusive, and sustainable commerce — even in the context of ongoing regional insecurity.

Speaking at the official launch in Kampala, Hon. Francis Mwebesa, Uganda’s Minister of Trade, described the initiative as a game-changer for both trade and diplomacy. “Regional integration is the backbone of economic transformation,” he said, calling for investment in hard and soft infrastructure, particularly in systems that support women and small-scale traders, who make up the bulk of cross-border commerce.

The programme builds on the momentum of a similar launch in the DRC on June 15, and aims to support free movement of people and goods, improve border management systems, and tackle long-standing issues such as illicit trade, displacement, and social exclusion. It is anchored in the belief that trade can be a force for peace, especially in regions long plagued by conflict and insecurity.

Anna Nambooze, TradeMark Africa’s Country Director, noted that the region represents a market of over 300 million people, and that structured trade can offer a pathway out of poverty and conflict. “Our focus is on building peace resilience and supporting grassroots traders,” she said, emphasizing the potential of the programme to support livelihoods while reducing vulnerabilities.

The EU Delegation representative stressed the urgency of coordinated action, citing over 6.9 million displaced people in the Great Lakes region and the risks posed by unchecked movement and illegal commerce. They called for stronger cross-border cooperation to safeguard both human security and economic opportunity.

Representing the IOM, Sanusi Tejan Savage, Chief of Mission in Uganda, emphasized the importance of safe and orderly migration. “This programme represents a commitment to safeguard the rights and dignity of borderland populations,” he said. He reiterated IOM’s support for facilitating safe movement, and protecting displaced populations and migrant traders.

Key institutions such as the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) also weighed in, with officials citing significant revenue losses from informal and illicit trade. They welcomed the initiative’s focus on formalizing cross-border commerce and supporting communities that often find themselves at the margins of national economic strategies.

Ms. Lynette Bagonza, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, emphasized that the programme is fully aligned with Uganda’s trade goals: removing non-tariff barriers, diversifying exports, promoting value addition, and strengthening institutional capabilities. She also stressed the importance of language inclusion, fair visa policies, and representation of women in policy decisions as central pillars for success.