Uganda suspends processing of DRC cargo bound for M23 controlled border points

March 4, 2025 in Business, Trade & Industry, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Uganda has suspended customs clearance for DRC-bound cargo through its border crossings with the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, and Rwanda.

The suspension affects DRC cargo transit through Katuna, Cyanika, Bunagana, Ishasa River, Busanza and Kyeshero. That effectively leaves Mpondwe (Kasindi), Rwebisengo, Mahagi, Goli and Vurra, further north as the only border crossings through which DRC-bound commercial traffic can be processed.

Uganda’s action is likely to compound the humanitarian situation in the eastern DRC where there are biting shortages of basic essentials and consumer goods. It will also impact Ugandan manufacturers for whom the DRC is a key market, as well as Uganda’s trade balance with its western neighbour.

The move, coming at the request of authorities in Kinshasa, follows the January 27, capture of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu Bukavu in South Kivu early February by rebels of the M23 Movement.

The suspensions, contained in a March 3 Uganda Revenue Authority internal memo to customs staff, also apply to the Katuna and Cyanika border posts with Rwanda, in respect of goods whose declared destination is Goma or Bukavu.

“It is now internationally recognised that Goma town (final destination to Cyanika border) and Bukavu town (final destination to Katuna border) are no loner under the control of the central government of the DRC,” writes Asadu Kigozi Kisitu, the Uganda Revenue Authority’s acting commissioner for customs.

“As a result, the DRC customs informed us that the lack of control has led to significant revenue losses to goods destined to the above towns.

“In order to mitigate this critical revenue loss, we hereby guide that all goods to DRC shall be declared to exit through other border points other than the following: Katuna, Cyanika, Bunagana, Ishasa River, Busanza and Kyeshero and the systems shall be configured to deactivate them temporarily from transiting goods to the DRC accordingly.”

According to the memo, the directive takes immediate effect and will remain in force until the political situation in the DRC is resolved.

Uganda has troops in the DRC’s Ituri province, where they have been conducting joint operations with the DRC armed forces against elements of the Allied Democratic Forces, an offshoot of ISIS.