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(Participants on the last day of the COMESA USAID DFID and GOU "Trading for Peace" Forum)
While the First COMESA – EAC – SADC Tripartite Summit (with the theme: ‘Deepening Integration’) was going on at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo (Kampala), another kind of forum was taking place in Kasese, Western Uganda. Organised by COMESA, DFID (UK Department for International Development) and USAID (United States Agency for International Development) in partnership with the Government of Uganda, the ‘Trading for Peace’ Meetings at Hotel Margherita between Monday 20th to Thursday 23rd October 2008 provided insights about the future of trade between Uganda and DRC plus how trade reform can help stabilize the region. On Friday 24th October 2008, a trade fair was held at Bwera Primary Teachers’ College and brought together traders, officials and experts from different countries including Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, USA, UK and Uganda. The forum on the first two days focused on the specific theme of “Timber Trade and Livelihoods”. It examined the mechanisms of forestry exports from DRC to Uganda; the way traders and officials bypass the law; the way local communities in the DRC make a living from this trade and possibilities for reforming the timber trade in a sustainable way which does not destroy livelihoods. A specific focus was to examine alternative ways of access to finance amongst populations dependent on the timber trade in order to reduce their dependence on powerful traders’ vested interests. The keynote presentations on Day One was made by Stuart Wilson, Forest Monitor UK; Victor Kasereka Siviri, ex head FEC Butembo; Hilary Sunman of DFID – UK and Ir. Gustave Chishweka Lubala, Great Lakes Human Rights Program. Day Two started with the presentation of results from the written exercise of Day One before Group Discussions were reconvened (Dominic Johnson [Researcher Pole Institute Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo] chaired the theme for Security, Sophie Monnet [COMESA ‘Trading for Peace’ Project Coordinator] led the talk about Information while Stuart’s group talked about Environmental Protection).
Winnie Kizza MP Kasese commented, “Information should be discussed in detail…You must know what taxes you have to pay…Middlemen will try to get something out of you; taxes and people handling them should be clearly identified…”. When called upon to give concluding remarks she said, “I’m happy to be with you in Kasese…Yesterday, I told you that your security was guaranteed and I’m proud that I can see everybody happy. I don’t forget to thank the delegates…for the contributions…to make trade a better thing. Ministers are meeting in Munyonyo and tomorrow the Heads of State will concretize what the ministers have discussed…It’s by coming together that we will understand each other. If trade is to be profitable there must be…trust, peace and security. This Trade for Peace Forum is timely…Give this forum maximum support when you go back to your country. Kasese will always be open…”
In an interview with International Alert (Understanding Conflict, Building Peace) Nick Bates, a Political Analyst at DFID – UK, revealed that the next theme for probably January 2009 will be the needs for energy and where it can come from. There is a global imperative to manage forests. Congo Forest is the second largest in the world. These meetings should “empower societies in challenging government”. Nick’s conclusions on the discussions included the following points of action: Mutual mistrust – People being unaware of what’s happening on both sides, there is need to talk at several levels…Need for better information and its dissemination (Two key things that have come out of discussions); Consultation framework needed; Discussion framework for issues; Talk across borders…
“We need to collectively as stakeholders work out mechanisms for meeting. There is a strong case for meeting at localized levels e.g. in Kasese meeting with brothers in North Kivu, Arua and across the border. These need to continue.”
Day 3 witnessed the official opening of the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime (STR) Workshop. Helen Kenani [COMESA Senior Trade Expert] represented the Secretary General by chairing the deliberations alongside Davies Bamuleseyo [Principal Commercial Officer Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry (Uganda)]. The following day, the STR was reviewed with the well illustrated handbook “Making Cross Border Trade Simplified” and a way forward was discussed with the aim of making the STR operational at the Mpondwe/ Kasindi Border Post. Objectives of the forum included creating an open space for dialogue between officials related with trade and cross border traders; to disseminate the COMESA STR; to build networks for trade facilitation and information sharing eg people at Bwera go regularly to Mpondwe; to offer traders (35 each from Congo and Uganda) an occasion to promote their business whether traded commodities or services through a trade fair. Some participants wanted immigration officials and key stakeholders like URA officers to attend their forum so that their achievements are not derailed by their absence. So on the final day, Kisitu Asadu Kigozi (Customs Officer Mpondwe) showed up for a heated interchange. Traders most especially women complained that several payments are made; Ugandan traders are not allowed to trade freely in Congo, can’t be allowed beyond Kasindi; their personal effects are even taken when they are arrested after checks; sometimes COMESA Certificates of Origin are not even recognized. For the last grievance, Kisitu replied, “Customs has signatories from all COMESA countries…” Drafts to end the issue of common lists and bring integration to life were exchanged between the Congo and Ugandan contingents. National working groups would finalise work on these documents. The chairperson advised that customs officials shouldn’t be looked at as askaris and neither should traders be looked at as culprits. Each should view the other as a partner in trade. The entire programme was aimed at understanding the role of trade in peace-building and poverty reduction in the Great Lakes Region.
