Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has appealed for calm as tensions continue to mount at closed the Uganda–Rwanda border.
“Uganda and Rwanda are brotherly countries, therefore, people should not get worried because the issues shall be handled and concluded. The Uganda Foreign Affairs Ministry is working on the matter,” Dr Rugunda said.
Traders are counting losses as the diplomatic stalemate at the Uganda-Rwanda border at Katuna enters day five.
Trucks loaded with goods from Uganda were blocked by the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) from entering Rwanda through the Katuna-Gatuna border post early this week.
Rwanda Revuunue Authority wrote to the Uganda Revenue Authority that construction works were ongoing on the Gatuna-Kigali highway and diverted cargo trucks to the Mirama Hills-Kagitumba border post, nearly 114kms away.
However, reports indicate this border post was also closed for goods from Uganda. The chairman for the clearing agents at Katuna border town, Mr Sam Sserwanga on Friday said that no single clearing agent from Rwanda is allowed to cross to Uganda.
Rwanda Foreign Affairs Minister, asked Rwandans not to travel to Uganda, “for their own safety.”
Rwanda Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Richard Sezibera listed three main complaints with Kampala, including incidents of continued harassment and arrests of Rwandan nationals, Uganda offering safe haven to terrorist groups that have committed crimes in Rwanda and are still bent on destabilizing the country, and seizure of Rwandan exports. He also advised Rwandans to avoid crossing to Uganda.
Uganda speaks out
On Friday, Government spokesman Mr Ofwono Opondo told press, “There’s no witch hunt for Rwandese in Uganda. There’s also nobody from Rwanda being held by the Ugandan authorities for any reason.” “We would like to send a clear message to Rwanda that there’s no one Uganda is harassing from Rwanda or has in custody.”
Earlier, Rwanda President, Paul Kagame said Rwanda has no plans to go to war with neighbours. He however, said; “there is a line that cannot be crossed’’ he did not name neighbors.
