The two borderland posts serve as entrance points for travelers and goods crossing from Uganda to Rwanda and vice versa.
The land borders are close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both of which provide fantastic gorilla trekking in Uganda.
They are also near Volcanoes National Park, which offers amazing mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Following the border closure, hundreds of cargo vehicles, as well as all visitors on Rwanda gorilla safaris from Uganda and Uganda gorilla safaris from Kigali Rwanda, were prevented from entering the two nations.
The Rwandan government first stated that the closure was caused by ongoing building work to modernize the customs station.
But afterward, Rwanda barred its people from entering Uganda, claiming that Uganda was interfering in their affairs.
The closing of Rwanda’s and Uganda’s land borders resulted in financial hardship for Rwandan and Ugandan citizens doing cross-border business.
Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda held talks to re-open the border, which were hosted by Angolan President Joao Lourenco and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi.
The last such meetings took place in February 2020. Since then, no meeting between the two leaders has taken place, owing in part to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Although Rwanda had insisted that the border remain closed until the contentious issues were resolved, the Rwandan government announced on January 28th, 2022, in a statement shared by Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, that it would reopen its land border with Uganda on January 31st, 2022.
What Caused The Reopening Of The Rwanda-Uganda Border?
According to a statement shared by Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, the reopening of the Rwanda-Uganda land border posts on January 28, 2022, follows a recent meeting between Uganda’s UPDF commander of land forces and first son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
The government also stated that Rwandan and Ugandan health authorities will collaborate to put in place the essential measures to ease and facilitate movement in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rwanda further underlined its commitment to resolving pending issues with Uganda and believes that the reopening of the border would serve as a quick mechanism to restore and improve relations between the two East African countries.
Meanwhile, the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat praised Rwandan and Ugandan authorities on Friday, January 28, 2022, for their efforts toward reopening land border posts on January 31.
EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki applauded the action, calling it a boost to regional integration, and stressing that boosting bilateral links between the two EAC Partner States will rejuvenate social, economic, and political relations.
“Reopening this key trade route is consistent with the principles of the EAC Common Market Protocol and is expected to enhance economic and social development in the Partner States by restoring free movement of products, persons, capital, and labor,” Mathuki added. According to Mathuki, reopening the border will boost regional peace and security.
The Benefits Of The Border Reopening For Tourism In Rwanda And Uganda
The re-opening of Rwanda-Uganda border posts is excellent news for East African collaboration, especially tourism, according to the Rwanda tour operators association.
During their Africa safaris, many visitors combine safaris in Uganda
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