By KT Reporter
Leaders and residents in Maracha district are urging the government to establish a customs and immigration border post at Saba Saba Trading Center, located in the newly created Drambu Sub County.
Saba Saba Trading Center, situated at the Uganda-DR-Congo border in Giawa Village, Simbili Parish, has a thriving cross-border business where traders conduct business between both countries without regulations.
The center currently has several shops on the Ugandan side of the border, while fewer are located on the Congolese side, with most shops situated about 500 meters inside DR Congo.
Valente Elema, the Trading Center Chairman of Saba Saba, expressed that the local community is ready to cooperate with the government in building the border post, as it would create more business opportunities, including in tourism.
Matia Eka, the Local Council One chairman of Giawa village, speaking in the local Lugbara dialect, emphasized that the locals have offered two acres of land for the establishment of the border post. He added that with electricity already in the area, the establishment of the border post would enable locals to benefit from direct employment and other business opportunities.
Silva Drani, the Vice Chairperson of the Finance Committee for Maracha district, explained that once established, the border post at Saba Saba would have a multiplier effect on the economic wellbeing of both Maracha and West Nile regions.
Robert Atiku, the Councillor for Oleba Sub County, which was carved to form the new Drambu Sub County, emphasized that establishing a border post in Simbili Parish would bring significant economic changes, urging the people to prepare for the potential opportunities.
In addition, reports indicate that James Kenda Odu, a Congolese tycoon based in Ariwara and Bunia, has purchased a larger chunk of land in Saba Saba on the Congolese side for setting up a fuel station, supermarket, and a general merchandise market, which is expected to boost the business landscape of the area-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
