Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa has vehemently denied accusations leveled against Uganda for closing its border with Rwanda.
Kutesa on Wednesday said unlike Rwanda that closed Gatuna border post on February 28, Uganda’s remains functional.
Statement:
1. Uganda wishes to refute allegations that it closed its border with Rwanda. Since 28 February 2019 when the Government of Rwanda issued an advisory against travel of its nationals to Uganda, flow of traffic from Uganda to Rwanda has been continuing normally, as detailed below: (i) Cyanika border post: 41 transactions have been processed; (ii) Katuna border post: 85 transactions have been processed. However, this is only for light vehicles that were being allowed to cross over; and (iii) Mira ma hills border post: 311 transactions have been processed.
2. What is happening on the ground however is that export of Ugandan goods to Rwanda have been prohibited by Rwanda authorities. The same authorities are only allowing crossing into Rwanda those trucks carrying transit goods destined for Rwanda or transiting through Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of Congo and other places.
3. Goods from Rwanda and Rwanda registered trucks are not being allowed to cross over from Rwanda into Uganda by the Rwanda authorities.
4. Rwanda has introduced an export permit system for those that intend to export goods to Uganda. This is a technical and non-tariff barrier to trade, to which there has been no successful applicant. In effect, this is a trade embargo on bilateral trade with Uganda. 5. The Uganda border posts continue to operate normally.
Government is not restricting any movement of goods and people from Uganda into Rwanda. However, there have been and remain restrictions on the movement of goods and people from Rwanda destined to Uganda
6. Consistent with its obligations under regional and continental frameworks, Uganda remains committed to ensuring the free movement of persons and goods across borders.