New Uganda, Burundi Road to Boost Trade, Will Bypass Rwanda
Uganda and Burundi are finalising plans to build a new road to promote trade and commerce, will also circumvent a barrier presented by Rwanda's closure of Gatuna border in early 2019. The new infrastructure to pass through northern Tanzania will fork out from Uganda in two branches - Kitagate in Isingiro to Karagwe and Myotera-Mutukula to Karagwe - which will then merge into one thoroughfare, to roll over Ngara in north-western Tanzania and link to Burundi's Kobero Border Crossing Point. These two routes are 360Km and 274Km, respectively and would take anywhere between four to six-and-half hours to drive, comparable to seven-and-half hours drive on the 348 kilometres from Gatuna to Bujumbura. Uganda's trade with Rwanda and Burundi, which is more inland, has plummeted since Kigali closed the busier Gatuna border, initially citing construction of a one-stop customs point, and later blaming the closure on arrests of Rwandan citizens in Uganda.
-
Uganda:
Uganda, Burundi to Build Road to Bypass Rwanda
Monitor, 20 May 2021
Uganda and Burundi are finalising plans to build a new road to promote trade and commerce and circumvent a barrier presented by Rwanda's closure of Gatuna border in early 2019. Read more »
-
East Africa:
Egos, Unfair Trade Shake EAC As DR Congo Eyes Entry
Monitor, 7 March 2021
Once upon a time, the East African Community (EAC), a six-member regional bloc of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan - admitted in 2016 - was both vibrant and… Read more »
-
Uganda:
No Let-Up in Uganda, Rwanda Diplomatic Standoff
East African, 10 May 2021
Rwanda and Uganda remain at loggerheads after almost three years of strained relations despite diplomatic efforts to resolve the outstanding issues. Read more »
InFocus
-
The Katuna/Gatuna border between Uganda and Rwanda remains closed for the movement of people and cargo, more than two years after Rwandan President Paul Kagame ordered its closure. ... Read more »
-
Rwanda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has sent word to Kampala and Nairobi, informing them that Kigali has been left with no choice but not to allow in ... Read more »
-
President Yoweri Museveni has said the closure of the border by Rwanda is a "hiccup" that will not slow the region down. "Even if the border is closed, trade will go on, only that ... Read more »
(file photo).