Asaph Atuheire Kyoojo, a taxi driver along Katuna-Kabale road told URN that the border closure has heavily affected business. Atuheire says that taxis, which would load passengers in just minutes before the border closure now wait for about eight
hours without any single passenger.
The Uganda-Rwanda
borders of Katuna and Chanika in Kabale and Kisoro districts respectively are
yet to reopen two years following their closure by Rwandan President, Paul
Kagame on February 27, 2019. Kagwe issued
a travel advisory to his nationals
against travelling to Uganda, saying their safety
is not guaranteed.
He
accused Ugandan authorities of abducting its citizens and locking
them up in non-designated areas. Kagame also
accused Uganda of hosting and facilitating dissidents especially from Rwanda
National Congress-RNC and the Democratic Forces for the liberation of Rwanda
FDLR, which have declared war on the Kigali government.
The
Rwandan authorities advised the truck drivers to use the Mirama Hill border in
Ntungamo district. The border closure took a huge toll on truck drivers and
suffocated business along the border especially Katuna and Chanika town.
This
led to an increase in smuggling along the border with most Rwandan nationals
crossing to Uganda through porous border points to buy food. Rwandan
authorities on accusations of smuggling have shot dead at least eight people
including Ugandan and Rwandan nationals.
Our reporter visited, Katuna border over the
weekend to check on business since the border closure. He received a cold reception
from security operatives who ordered him to vacate the border and get clearance
from higher security officials since the Katuna border issue is now a sensitive
international security matter. Asaph
Atuheire Kyoojo, a taxi driver along Katuna-Kabale road told URN that the
border closure has heavily affected business. Atuheire says that taxis, which
would load passengers in just minutes before the border closure now wait for
about eight
hours without any single passenger.
Atuheire says that before the border closure, he
would pocket about Shillings 30,000 per day as profits, but now, it is hard to
even get Shillings 10,000. Atuheire says that
his prayer is to see the border open so that
business resumes.
Rukiga
Audio
//Cue in: “border oku oragyireeba…
Cue out: …nka eshatu.”//
Gilbert Byahuhanga, a businessman says the border
closure saw many people vacating Katuna, which led to the total collapse of
business. Byaruhanga says that before the border closure, he would earn about Shillings
50,000 per day, which is now impossible.
Byaruhanga says that residents have lost hope
that the border will reopen anytime soon since the talks between President
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame since not to
have yielded any results.
//Cue in: “emirimo yeitu ekafwa…
Cue out: …bitambura mumeisho.”//
Eric Sunday, Town clerk Katuna town council says
that they have lost over Shillings 400 million in revenue following the border
closure in form of trading licenses, parking fees and weekly market dues among
others.
He the town council has failed to implement
projects of water extension and provision of furniture to government schools
because of the revenue collection shortfall.
//Cue in: “We were getting…
Cue out: …technical staff.”//
Rukiga
//Cue in: “Kwiha border nekingwa…
Cue out: …obutagyira ntasya.”//
Erasmus Sanyu, the Chanika Town Council LC 3
chairperson, says the border closure has cost them about Shillings 40 million
in revenue. Sanyu says the revenue collection from tenders and street parking collapsed
completely since the border is dry in terms of business.
//Cue in: “muri egyi myaaka..
Cue out: …40 plus,”//
On
July 30, 2019, President Museveni told journalists at Kabale State Lodge that
they discussing the impasse with his Rwandan counterpart.
//Cue in: “esharo turiyo nituganiira…
Cue out: ….ehi byaherera.”//
However, to date, the negotiations being mediated by Angolan President, João
Lourenço and his Democratic Republic of Congo counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi
