Gatuna/Katuna one-stop-border-post connecting Rwanda and Uganda is now fully operational and the number of travellers has significantly increased by 50%.
According to Soter Kabyogamu, a Ugandan senior immigration official at the border, the number of travelers from either country has increased to about 1,500 per day, unlike in the past when the number was about 1,000.
“The increase of travellers is attributed to the operationalisation of the one-stop-border-post in either countries. The flow of travelers is smooth and time-saving, unlike in the past where travellers had to go through clearance processes on either side of the country,” Kabyogamu said.
Meanwhile, there are arrangements on the Uganda side to have all porous border crossings legalised and elevated to official immigration offices.
Rwanda and Uganda have in the recent past experienced nasty incidents of smugglers on either side through porous entry points resulting sometimes in fatal shooting of the smugglers.
Early this year, Rwanda and Uganda convened a Joint Permanent Commission and Business Forum in the capital Kigali and one of the major issues raised was the cases of illegal entries and the associated consequences.
Both countries agreed on coming up with measures aimed at solving the challenges of cross-border travels and trade between the two countries.
Their plan is to create centres for the proper accountability of the people who cross from either countries.
With crossing made easy, It will enhance trade, promote efficient movement of persons and goods and reduce the cost of doing business.
On Tuesday, Uganda’s director of Citizenship and Immigration Directorate in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Maj.Gen. Apollo Kasiita Gowa, visited Katuna Border Post on routine supervision.
“Today, I am with a team of technocrats who include the Commissioner, Immigration Control, Col Geoffrey Kambere, and other engineers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We are assessing the porous border points that we may begin with,” Maj Gen Gowa said.
“We have visited Omurubumba porous border post in Kabale District. We shall head to Kisoro District to assess others. This exercise shall be conducted countrywide to facilitate the free movement of people and their goods crossing to the East African Community countries,” he added.
