Rwanda to open Gatuna’s border after Museveni’s son visit

By Maniraguha Ferdinand

Government of Rwanda has announced to reopen Gatuna’s border with Uganda which has been closed for almost three years.

The reopening is slated on 31 January 2022, according to Rwanda’s official statement.

It comes days after the visit of Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations and Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni.

Rwanda and Uganda have been in feuds since 2017, where Rwanda accused its northern neighbor of harbouring negative elements aiming at destabilizing Kigali, while Uganda protested infiltration of Rwanda’s secret services.

In statement, Rwanda acknowledged good results since Muhoozi’s visit, and noted “a process to solve issues raised by Rwanda, as well as commitments made by the Government of Uganda to address remaining obstacles.”

“The  Government of Rwanda wishes to inform the public that the Gatuna border post between Rwanda and Uganda will be re-opened from 31″ January 2022”, the statement reads.

Gatuna border which is in the Nothern Rwanda, is the shortest way for trucks carrying goods from Dar es Salaam port to Kampala via Kigali or from Mombasa port to Kigali via Kampala.

Only 86 kilometers from  Gatuna to Kigali, while from Kagitumba in the South-Eastern Uganda to Kigali, the road is 185 kilometers. The second one was the only other alternative for trucks drivers crossing between both countries.

Rwanda says it “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.”