Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed six new bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in trade, security, tourism, and diplomacy as the two neighboring countries deepen regional ties. The agreements were signed on Monday during the 9th session of the Uganda-DR Congo Joint Standing Committee held in Kampala. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi attended the meeting ahead of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Tuesday. The Memoranda of Understanding cover key areas including cross-border trade, infrastructure connectivity, diplomatic collaboration, tourism development, and joint security efforts in the Great Lakes region.
In a statement shared on X, Uganda’s State House described the agreements as a major step toward improving people-to-people relations, expanding economic opportunities, and promoting regional peace and stability. Economic cooperation remains central to the partnership between the two countries. According to Irene Batebe, Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda’s exports to the DRC exceeded $800 million during the 2025/26 financial year, while total bilateral trade reached nearly $1 billion. The DRC is currently Uganda’s largest export market and one of its most important trading partners in the region.
Security cooperation also featured prominently in the talks as both countries reaffirmed support for Operation Shujaa, the joint military campaign launched in 2021 against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group linked to the Islamic State operating in eastern Congo. The renewed commitment comes amid continued attacks by the ADF in eastern DRC, where insecurity and armed conflict remain major regional concerns. Officials from both countries said the new agreements are expected to strengthen economic integration and reinforce collaborative efforts against cross-border security threats.
