Uganda and DR Congo sign six new bilateral deals

Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed six new bilateral agreements on Monday to strengthen their cooperation.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi travelled to Kampala for the 9th session of the Joint Standing Committee of the two countries. His visit comes one day before Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is sworn in for another term.

The six memorandums of understanding cover trade, security, diplomatic relations and tourism.

According to the Uganda State House, the agreements will help improve ties between citizens, boost cross-border cooperation, expand trade, enhance connectivity and support peace in the Great Lakes Region.

The new deals are expected to increase trade between Kampala and Kinshasa. The DR Congo is already Uganda’s largest trading partner and one of its top export destinations, said Irene Batebe, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

Batebe added that Uganda’s exports to the DR Congo exceeded $800 million in 2025/26, with “total bilateral trade amounting to approximately $1 billion.”

The two neighbours also agreed to continue their security partnership. Ugandan and Congolese forces have worked together since 2021 in Operation Shujaa, a military offensive against the Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel group linked to the Islamic State, in eastern DR Congo.

Both countries said they remain committed to joint security operations after fresh attacks by the ADF.

SOURCE: AFP