President Yoweri Museveni used the 58th independence celebrations at Entebbe State House to explain why Uganda has resolved to construct three roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There has been public uproar ever since state minister for finance, David Bahati, table a supplementary budget in parliament that include money for constructing over 220km of roads in the DRC.
Ugandans have been questioning why the government would construct roads in DRC when several roads in Uganda are impassable. However, Museveni has explained that Uganda badly needs roads that connect Uganda to various parts of DRC in order to facilitate trade.
Museveni said Uganda earns over 500m US dollars every year translating into 1.8 trillion shillings. The government of Uganda through Museveni agreed with DRC counterpart, Felix Tshesekedi, to construct the road networks.
A section of Ugandans believe that the government is perhaps paying back for the gold and valuable timber that was allegedly stolen from DRC in the early 1990s by Generals in this government. Others believe Uganda is has now realized that DRC is more trusted that Rwanda that has closed its borders for close to two years.
Meanwhile, dignitaries ranging from government ministers, a few selected MPs, religious leaders, police and army security chiefs attended the independence celebrations hosted at State House. Unlike the previous functions where medals were given out, this year’s ceremony did not have that on the program due to Covid19. Uganda gained her independence from Britain October 9, 1962.
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