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“Starting January,1, 2024, Congolese nationals will come into Uganda without requirement for visa and Ugandans will cross to DRC without need for visa,” Ministry of Internal Affair, Simon Mundeyi announced on Monday.
Last year, the Democratic Republic of the Congo joined East African Community(EAC) as its seventh member.
Speaking on Monday, the Internal Affairs Ministry spokesperson said the decision to abolish visa requirement for Congolese nationals followed the signing of the Treaty of Accession to join the East African bloc on July, 11, 2022.
“During the 8th joint permanent commission held between October, 11 and 15 in Kinshasa, both parties agreed in principle to waive visa requirement for citizens on a reciprocal principle. We have made this communication to our officers at the border points.”
The development means Ugandans can now access all countries in the East African Community.
However, this is with the exception of Somalia which has just joined the bloc and the protocols are not yet signed. The East African bloc now has eight countries.
This includes Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, Rwanda, DRC and the latest being Somalia. The abolishment of this requirement is expected to speed up movement of persons from these countries but also enhance trade.
Check Also;
- William Ruto Declares Kenya Visa-free For All Visitors
- Entebbe International Airport Bans Recording Of Videos And Photos On The Premises
- New Guidelines Issued By Government For Visa-Free Visitors To Uganda
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg)