KIGALI, Rwanda
Rwandans and Ugandans intending to travel to either country using the just re-opened Gatuna/Katuna border will have to wait longer as officials of both countries work out modalities of managing travel in the context of Covid-19.
The border, which had been closed since February
2019 amid a diplomatic impasse, reopened Monday, but many who intended to
travel could not do so as only cargo, returning Rwandan citizens, and a few
Ugandans traveling for essential purposes were cleared to cross into Rwanda.
Immigration and customs officials of both countries
held a closed-door meeting on the Rwandan side Monday morning, which is
understood to have deliberated on necessary measures to facilitate movements in
the context of Covid-19.
Rwanda government spokespeople had earlier
indicated that the same Covid-19 protocols observed at other functional land
borders will be applicable at the Gatuna/Katuna border.
“Trucks, Rwandan citizens and returning residents
are crossing to Rwanda at Gatuna like at other border points, as per EAC
Covid-19 protocols. As noted in the communiqué, Rwandan and Ugandan health
officials are working on joint Covid-19 protocols, which will enable all to
cross on both sides,” Rwanda government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said in a
tweet Monday.
It was, however, unclear to those who intend to
travel what the specific protocols are.
Rwandan health officials indicated that a team of
medical personnel and equipment had been deployed to Gatuna ahead of its
re-opening to facilitate with Covid-19 testing.
Rwanda last week announced the reopening of the
Gatuna border effective January 31 after a series of meetings President Paul
Kagame held with envoys from his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni.
A statement released by the Rwandan Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation a week after the visit and
closed-door meeting with Lt-Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Ugandan President Yoweri
Museveni’s son, stated that “there is a process to solve issues raised by
Rwanda, as well as commitment made by the government of Uganda to address the
remaining obstacles.”
Before the border closure, Kigali accused Kampala
of hunting down Rwandan nationals in Uganda, and supporting groups working
against the regime in Rwanda.
The issues sparked diplomatic tensions that, in
February 2019, led to the closure of their common border of Gatuna, the busiest
import and export corridor linking both countries and the region to the port of
Mombasa.
Officials in Rwanda maintain the Gatuna border
re-opening doesn’t imply that issues Rwanda raised have all been addressed, but
it is a step forward in the process of resolving the remaining issues.
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