The Minister of Works and Transport, General Edward Katumba Wamala, has urged Dott Services Limited, a company which is going to construct roads in Eastern DRC to be mindful of the project specifications and timelines.
“The contractor and consultant must be mindful of the project specifications and timelines and ensure adherence to the requirements of the two Governments,” Katumba told journalists in the city of Goma shortly after handing over two sites to Dott Services.
He Noted that the roads are part of the strategic infrastructure projects, which include the construction and upgrading of 1,182km of main roads network connecting the two Countries, to be implemented by the two Countries in the short to medium term.
These regional roads, consist of the construction of three roads that connect Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
They will cover, Mpondwe/Kasindi – Beni road (80km), Bunagana – Rutshuru – Goma Road (89km) and the Beni – Butembo (54km), roads.
During the state visit of the President of DRC, H. E. Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo from November 9-10, 2019, It was agreed with the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that the two countries would implement certain strategic infrastructure projects.
During the Quadripartite Summit held on February 21, 2020 at Katuna in Uganda, under the Luanda process, the two Heads of State of DRC and Uganda reaffirmed their commitment to the joint construction or upgrading of the roads network connecting them and agreed on the immediate joint implementation of the project.
Katumba noted that the objectives of the projects are to strengthen bilateral relations between Uganda and DRC, increase the volume of trade.
“These will ease ways of doing business, improve people to people movement and security, and to fast track regional integration,” he said.
Katumba, thanked the Project Steering Committee and the technical staff for the work done to reach the milestone.
“I also thank the Governor of North Kivu Province and all the local leaders for the support accorded to this very important project,” he noted.
The minister, also requested citizens of Uganda and DRC to continue supporting the project, particularly the Contractor within DRC to familiarize with the project area, get access to project inputs and get started with the physical works.