By Kwanta Douglas –
Rwandans will be allowed to cross the Gatuna/Katuna border with Uganda starting Monday, for the first time in three years, after the two countries moved to end an impasse at the centre of its February 2019 closure.
A day after Rwanda announced the reopening of the border effective January 31, business operators, including clearing agents, customs, immigration staff and logistics sector players, rushed back to the border area to book space and prepare for the resumption of operations.
The businesses, like workers in services and activities that depended on the border traffic such as money changers, vendors, taxi operators and others, closed shop and traders left soon after the border was closed in February 2019.
Kigali, which accused Kampala of mistreating Rwanda and supporting groups working against Rwanda, recently announced the border reopening following meetings between officials, and a commitment to address contentious issues.
While the Rwandan government indicated that authorities of the two countries would work together to put in place necessary measures to facilitate movement in the context of Covid-19, the residents told The EastAfrican that details were yet to communicated.
“We are yet to get any communication with regard to travel requirements and whether we need to brace for any restrictions. Our concerns are that if Covid-19 tests are going to be a condition for travelling, it is going to bar many. You cannot pay Rwf5,000 for testing to cross to buy maize flour of the same amount or below. The situation will not be different from what it was during closure,” said Viviane Uwimpuhwe, a resident of Gatuna.
Ms Uwimpuhwe owned a clothes business in Uganda, which she abandoned and left with her family after they were expelled.
