Gatuna is one of the busiest transit routes in the region, serving travelers to and from Uganda, Kenya and even South Sudan
On Thursday, hundreds of travelers were stranded at the border crossing, after they were barred by Immigration officials from crossing into Uganda.
The travelers who crossed into Uganda had to find other means of travel, as the road was blocked by trucks, and bus companies plying the route had suspended operations. Taxi operators took advantage of the situation and flocked to the border post to offer services at thrice the normal fare.
Trade between the two neighbors has been affected, with goods trucks stuck on either side of the border. Informal traders, too, found it difficult to cross because of lack of affordable transportation.
Some pleaded with the border officials, arguing that their reasons for travel were urgent, but to no avail. They were forced to return to Kigali, two hours away.
On Friday, only a handful of Rwandans were around Gatuna, hoping they would be allowed to cross to Uganda, but the Rwandan officials were adamant. They were elderly women and men visiting relatives in the nearby district of Kabale found in Uganda.
Rwanda Ambassador Summoned
The Rwandan ambassador in Kampala, Mr Frank Mugambaje was summoned by the government to explain the impasse. And Mr Philemon Mateke, Uganda’s Minister of State for Regional Affairs called Rwanda’s decision to block the movement of goods and persons a declaration of a trade war he remarked that “We don’t know their motive, but we think it is a declaration of a trade war,”
The truck drivers interviewed on Friday said that they were not informed in time of the border closure plan and also remarked that "We have come a long way only to be directed to Kagitumba and when we got here. The customs officials refused to clear us. And going to Kagitumba from here will more than double our costs,"
Beginning of a Trade war
As traffic piled up on both sides of Gatuna, the Rwanda Revenue Authority on Thursday also circulated a memorandum diverting heavy trucks to the Kagitumba-Mirama hills border, more than three hours away, forcing the Uganda government to accuse Kigali of launching a trade war
The Rwanda Revenue Authority said the diversion was intended to expedite construction of the one-stop border post, but only non-Rwandan nationals and foreign registered vehicles were being allowed to proceed.
One Rwandan local said that “Today morning the policemen came to barricade the entrance to the border, and you can’t pass if you are not Ugandan,”
Traders complaining of Business Loss
The border closures comes at a time of heightened political tensions between Rwanda and Uganda, and the Rwandan President Paul Kagame had earlier said that the two countries’ relations were not improving because of a reluctance to solve their differences.
And hence at Cyanika border post, another crossing point between the two countries, it was established that the border post had been closed for three days by Friday
One porter who declined to be named also remarked that “It’s apparent that there is something going on that we are not being told about. We need the authorities to make things clear because it has resulted into losses for everyone here,” adding that his daily income had declined from $5.6 to $1 since Wednesday.
Some Members of Parliament like Sam Bitangaro, Member of Parliament for Bufumbira County South in Uganda, while acknowledging the need to expedite construction of the Gatuna post, wondered why Cyanika too was closed, and why no reason was offered for the closure. Mr Bitangaro said because of the closure, communities have not been able to trade and schools have been affected.
The Uganda government spokesman Ofwono Opondo, too, raised similar concerns, saying innocent children were being blocked from attending school on the Ugandan side.
He added that; “There’s no witch-hunt of Rwandese in Uganda. There’s nobody from Rwanda being held by the Ugandan authorities for any reason. We would like to send a clear message to Rwanda that there’s no Rwandese in Uganda being harassed or in our custody.”
This statement was however rejected by Rwanda, which insists that it has evidence to the contrary stating that “We have a list of people who have been arrested. They are arresting people, in Mbarara and Kisoro...why would you endanger yourself by travelling there?”
Mr Bitangaro, in whose constituency the Cyanika border post falls, however said the Rwandan officials had, as a “humanitarian act,” allowed dealers in perishable goods such as fish, fruits and vegetables to cross, but noted that it was a one-off gesture.
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