BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSH
Uganda has joined Tanzania and Kenya in waiving visa requirements for nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The decision is expected to significantly enhance regional trade, the driving force behind East African integration.
The move taken during a meeting of senior officials of the two sides recently comes as incidents associated with insecurity at their common border have declined.
Uganda becomes the third East African Community (EAC) partner state to waive visa requirements for DRC citizens after Tanzania and Kenya.
The move is in harmony with the provisions of the EAC Common Market Protocol, which among other freedoms and rights, provides for the free movement of persons and workers across the region.
"It would go a long way in promoting intra-regional trade that currently stands at just 15 percent", said the EAC secretary general Peter Mathuki.
He added that the removal of the travel barriers will not only facilitate the free movement of people but also spur trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.
"In addition to the increased trade, we are bound to witness free movement of labour", he pointed out.
Dr.Mathuki added; "Increased opportunities for trade and investments to our region will fire up socio-economic growth across the bloc".
He urged other partner states that have not yet waived visa requirements for DRC citizens to expedite the negotiations with the bloc’s newest member in line with the provisions of the Common Market.
DRC, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, joined the Community early last year, becoming its seventh partner state.
The other partner states are Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya which revived the bloc in 1996 followed by Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan later.
Article 10 of the EAC Common Market Protocol states that citizens of the member states are at liberty to accept employment within the territories of Partner States other than their own.
Tanzania and Kenya halted visa requirements for the DRC nationals on September 1st and August 25th this year respectively.
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