Common currency will speed up EAC integration – Parliament told

The Parliamentary Committee on East African Community affairs has expressed concern over the prevailing security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chaired by Bufumbira East legislator, Dr James Nsaba Buturo, the committee witnessed that trade between the two countries had fallen, affecting communities on either side.

Nsaba Buturo noted that their oversight visit was to evaluate the effectiveness of the One-Stop Border Points (OSBP), which are key in the integration of the East African Community states.

The committee was receiced at Kisoro District Local Government headquarters, by a team led by the Kisoro RDC Hajj Badru Sebyala.

The Deputy RDC, Robert Tukamuhebwa urged that the partner states should embrace a common currency, which would benefit their residents and also help speed up the integration process.

“I advise that we first seek to have a common currency, since political federation seems to be taking long. Because almost everyone understands that working together will save us from a lot.” Said Tukamuhebwa.

He noted that Kisoro was still receiving asylum seekers from DRC due to the security situation.

Dr Buturo on his part rooted for the communities to appreciate the intergration and cooperation of the East African States, saying the current community of 7 states has a market of over 300 million people, and the numbers would reach 500 million people once Ethiopia joins the community.

“There’s no way we shall change this world unless we come together. We need to become a strong force and have a voice. That’s why we need the EAC to work out. We nedd free movement of people and goods. Remember we are all one. When we talk of these numbers, they mean market for produce, labour force, minerals, and many other things,” said Buturo.

“We have to admit that its absurd that our neighbour DRC is one of the richest nations in the world. But instead of exporting minerals and products, she is sending us refugees. We must find a solution to this insecurity problem and unite as East Africans and Africans against a common enemy.”

Shartsi Musherure, the Mawogola County Member of Parliament, also the Committee vice chairperson, said they would ensure that issues affecting border communities reach relevant authorities for action.

The committee visited Cyanika border, where border officials reported an increase in flow of both passengers and commodities, since the reopening of the border in January 2022.

Traders however expressed concern against non-tariff barriers imposed on them, that seem to block Ugandan traders from operating on Rwandan territory.

At the DRC border with Bunagana, the committee was concerned that no international trade was taking place since the M23 rebel outfit – fighting against DRC government forces – took control of Bunagana border town, and subsequent swathes of territory in North Kivu province, eastern DRC.

Kinshasa in June 2022 subsequently closed Bunagana border, since it did not have

For almost three years now, trade suffered serious setbacks, with the border closes but embracing foot movement of people from either side to buy food, and asylum seekers fleeing fighting and militia groups.

The DRC, which boasts of a population of 107 million people, is Uganda’s biggest trading partner in East Africa. But international trade collapsed with the border closure, with over Shs500 million lost in revenue.

Among other things, the committee is assessing the status of border operations and traders, extent of implementation of customs union and common markets protocol, infrastructure facilitating border trade and security and stability.

The committee held meetings with district local government officials, immigration officials, Uganda Revenue Authority officials, security officials, community leaders and business community.

From Kisoro, the committee will visit Katuna border in Kabale district and Mirama hills border in Ntungamo district, both on Uganda – Rwanda border.