Gatuna border between Rwanda and Uganda will be reopened on January 31, 2022, nearly three years after it was closed on February 28, 2019.
This announcement was made following the visit to Rwanda of Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations and Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), on 22nd January 2022.
Mohoozi met President Paul Kagame in Kigali to discuss bilateral ties between the two countries which had deteriorated further since the 4th Quadripartite Summit held at Gatuna/Katuna on February 21, 2020.
President Kagame and Gen. Muhoozi agreed to take practical steps toward resolving issues that have caused tensions between Rwanda and Uganda over the last five or so years.
The reopening of the border, which Rwanda said closed to prevent more Rwandans from going to Uganda, for their own safety, was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on Friday, January 28.
“Following the visit to Rwanda of Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations and Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on 22nd January 2022, the Government of Rwanda has taken note that there is a process to solve issues raised by Rwanda, as well as commitments made by the Government of Uganda to address remaining obstacles,” Rwanda Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement.
Said the report further; “In this regard and in line with the communique of the 4th Quadripartite Summit held at Gatuna/Katuna on 21″ February 2020, the Government of Rwanda wishes to inform the public that the Gatuna border post between Rwanda and Uganda will be re-opened from 31st January 2022.”
“As is the case for other land border posts in the country, health authorities of Rwanda and Uganda will work together to put in place necessary measures to facilitate movement in the context of COVID-19.”
“The Government of Rwanda remains committed to ongoing efforts to resolve pending issues between Rwanda and Uganda and believes that today’s announcement will contribute positively to the speedy normalization of relations between the two countries.”
President Kagame and Gen. Muhoozi agreed to take practical steps toward resolving the standoff between Rwanda and Uganda.
The move to reopen the border, which has been among the key issues at the centre of relations between the two countries is a big relief to the business community that has endured two years of trade disruption. Freight forwarders in the East African region have applauded the move as a bold step towards the recovery of the sector and especially from the damage caused by covid19.
