Ugandans struggling to trade in Rwanda
Majority of Ugandans trading in the neighbouring Rwanda are still facing hurdles importing goods despite full reopening of the Katuna border point.
The Rwandan authorities fully reopened the border this month, a month after partial re-opening. It was previously closed on February 27, 2019, after Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused Uganda of human rights violations against its citizens.
However, the reopening of the border is still taking a huge toll on locals dealing in produce and cement as their goods are not allowed to cross over for no particular reason.
Traders from Uganda allege that trucks transporting cement, maize flour and beans from Kasese district are blocked by Rwandan authorities at the border. They claim that only trucks transporting goods loaded from other countries like Mombasa -Kenya are free to pass.
Ugandans struggling to trade in Rwanda
Reuben Mutabazi, the Kabale District Internal Security Officer says that after security authorities kept on receiving reports that Ugandan goods are still being blocked from being exported to Rwanda, he and Godfrey Nyakahuma,the area Resident District Commissioner early this week drove to Katuna border to carry out investigations.
Mutabazi says that there is a need for higher Ugandan authorities especially the cabinet to look into the matter and forge means of handling it with Rwandan authorities.
