East African Business Week (Kampala)
15 November 2009
Kigali — The movement of people and goods from Uganda to Rwanda is to be facilitated 24 hours a day starting April next year, the two neighbouring states have agreed. The development comes following growing traffic of both cargo and passenger vehicles crossing the two borders.
The traffic is increasing with buses leaving Kampala as early as 11pm. They arrive at Katuna before 6am. However, bus operators complain that most times "the border is closed leaving passengers to suffer in the biting cold at the borders."
Mr. Edward Mukaya, a regular traveller between Kigali and Kampala complained," "We at times remain in the long queues for hours at the border for hours without customs and immigration officers in the office. These people start work at 6am which is lowering business."
On a good note, Mr. Gerald Nkusi Mukubu, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) publicist, however, says the delays at the two borders are to be addressed.
This means more immigration staff, customs officials and security personnel are to be recruited to facilitate the 24-hour services at the border posts.
The passengers and truck drivers though, will have to wait for another five months before Uganda and Rwanda start implementing the 24-hour services at Gatuna and Katuna.
"It was proposed during the East African Community Revenue Authority Commissioner Generals meeting that Gatuna-Katuna border will remain open 24-hours by April next year," Nkusi said.
The Kigali meeting was attended by revenue bosses from Burundi , Kenya , Uganda , Tanzania and Rwanda.
Bus operators and passengers have welcomed the 24-hour service saying it is timely and another important step towards regional integration."
The planned 24 hours operations at Katuna and Gatuna come at a time Rwanda is also planning to ease cross border trade at its border with Burundi and DR Congo.
"We are starting with DR Congo border first," Nkusi said on phone. Burundi will follow," Nkusi said.
In June this year, The Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) border posts of the member countries were supposed to operate 24 hours, with effect from September, 1, 2009.
CEPGL member states include Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo. The members also agreed that their nationals would use identity cards as travel documents for border residents for a period not exceeding three days. Rwanda offers a 90 day visa free stay to CEPGL nationals and has the work permit waived for EAC nationals.
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