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A Ugandan delegation led by Lt. Gen. Taban Amin has signed a joint communiqué with officials from Mahagi Territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking a significant step toward enhancing peace, security, and cross-border collaboration. The agreement, signed on May 5, 2025, builds on an earlier meeting in Nebbi District and underscores the shared commitment of both nations to regional stability, unity, and socio-economic development.

A government delegation led by Lt. Gen. Taban Amin, Chairperson of the Border Monitoring Committee for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), South Sudan, and Uganda, has signed a joint communiqué with counterparts from Mahagi Territory in DR Congo.

The agreement, signed on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Caritas Hotel in Mahagi Town, follows a prior cross-border leaders’ meeting held in mid-April. That meeting brought together representatives from Uganda’s Buliisa, Nebbi, Pakwach, and Zombo districts, along with officials from DR Congo.

During the signing ceremony, Akumu Catherine Mavenjina, Member of Parliament representing Older Persons in Uganda’s northern region and liaison officer between the four Ugandan districts and Mahagi Territory, highlighted the strategic objective of the collaboration: to promote unity, peace, security, and cross-border cooperation and development between the two nations.

The earlier meeting, held on April 14–15 in Nebbi District, was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the joint communiqué. It was co-chaired by Lt. Gen. Taban Amin and Col. Disanoa Lalua Jacques, the Administrator of Mahagi Territory and head of the DR Congo delegation.

At the Nebbi gathering, Uganda’s State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Godfrey Kabyanga Baluku, reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to strengthening peace and security along the eastern DR Congo-Uganda border, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for long-term regional stability.

On Monday,  Lt. Gen. Amin hailed what he described as a “calm and peaceful”  environment along the borders with good working relations among the people of Uganda and Eastern DR Congo.

Amin reaffirmed the presence of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces UPDF in DR-Congo and South Sudan who have been deployed to ensure peace and security.

Col. Lalua, the administrator of Mahagi territory and head of the DR-Congo delegation reaffirmed the good relations which exist between the two states under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and President of DR Congo Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.

He reported good cooperation and collaboration between UPDF and the FARDC forces specifically in the current ongoing operations in Ituri province inside DR Congo.

Nebbi Resident District Commissioner Robert Abak said we are here in the spirit of Pan Africanism and we need to know that we are brothers and sisters.

“At whatever cost, there must be peace in Mahagi and Ituri in Mahagi. The team before you is a well-organised team appointed by President Museveni to work with the team in DR Congo to restore peace in Africa. We share a lot, ranging from culture, tribe, intermarriage and we need to speak the same language of peace and transformation,” Abak said.

Festus Ayikobua, the RDC Zombo appealed for levelled ground for business and to make movement easy for the two communities. Some people want to use the border for the wrong things and this team should manage such.

Some people will want to hide in DR Congo and Uganda after committing crimes but the security should be able to handle such situations for peaceful living.