The growing influence of Uganda currency in Ituri province of Democratic Republic of Congo has triggered an economic disruption.
Taarifa sources on ground have learned that the population of Mahagi territory (Ituri) prefers to use the Ugandan currency, the Shilling, rather than the Congolese franc, which is shunned by traders.
All prices of items at the market and even in stores are set in Ugandan shillings.
The local civil society has voiced its concern over the situation arguing that currency is one of the elements of sovereignty of a nation, thus they are asking the competent authorities to do everything possible to impose the Congolese franc throughout the country, without any exception.
“The Congolese franc is almost equal to the shilling during transactions, but like everyone else, locals prefer to use the Ugandan currency to the detriment of the Congolese franc,” according to a Motor taxi operator in Ituri who also charges passengers in shillings.
“Here at home, eight thousand Congolese francs are equivalent to ten thousand Ugandan shillings, but at the market ten thousand francs are equivalent to ten thousand Uganda shillings. The reason is that women traders do not know how to use the Congolese Franc, they only round the numbers to avoid conversion calculations,” Musinguzi Abdallah was quoted by radio Okapi in an exclusive interview.
