Rwanda on Monday reopened its land border with Uganda after a three-year closure, signaling a thaw in relations between the two East African neighbours.
However, Rwandan authorities are still barring Ugandans from crossing to their country through Katuna in Kabale and Chanika in Kisoro districts despite the border re-opening today, according to travelers themselves and highly placed security sources.
Rwanda on 28th of this month announced in a statement that the border will be re-open today after it was closed on February 27th, 2019.
A security official at the border told our reporter on Monday that despite the announcement, there are still many unresolved glitches Rwanda is yet to clear.
According to an official who requested anonymity, Rwandan nationals are still being blocked from crossing to Uganda as well as Ugandans are also still being blocked from crossing to Rwanda through Katuna and Chanika.
Christine Tushabe, a Ugandan from Bageza sub county, Mubende district was found stuck at the border. She says that she had traveled to Rwanda through the Katuna border to accompany her relative for a burial ceremony.
Tushabe however says that despite having all the necessary requirements she was told by Rwandan authorities that no Ugandan is supposed to cross to their country.
Kisoro District Chairman Abel Bizimana, protesting Rwanda’s blocking Ugandans from crossing into Rwanda yet Rwanda’s statement is clear that the border is open, now wants Rwanda to solve every glitch for the effective crossing by the people.
At around 11:30 AM, Ugandan officials led by Abel Kagumire, Commissioner for Customs in charge of Katuna border and officials from the Immigrations department at Katuna border held a closed-door meeting with Rwandan security authorities at the Rwandan border side of Gatuna.
When asked what transpired in the meeting, Kagumire says that they were harmonizing on steps to follow while clearing the cargo trucks.
Kagumire says that the meeting did involve discussion about why it is still not easy for Ugandans to freely cross to Rwanda like how it used to be.
By press time, Ugandans were still being restricted from crossing to Rwanda.
