The Rwandan envoy to Uganda, Maj Gen Frank Mugambage has denied reports that he has been summoned by Ugandan authorities to explain the diplomatic standoff at the Uganda-Rwanda border.
Mugambage, in an interview with nbs tv, said that Rwanda is concerned about her nationals that are being held in Ugandan cells as well as ‘terrorist groups’ operating in Uganda.
Although he did not give details, Maj Gen Mugambage alludes to the fact that some Rwandan nationals are organizing terror activities, adding that Ugandan authorities have been told about the matter although nothing has been done about it.
He was responding to a question on the genesis of tensions between Rwanda and Uganda that have culminated in Rwanda stopping her nationals from stepping foot in Uganda.
Tensions have been high at the Uganda-Rwanda border since Wednesday after dozens of cargo trucks from Uganda were blocked by the Rwanda Revenue Authoring (RRA) from entering Rwanda through the Katuna/Gatuna border post.
Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) notified the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in writing that construction works were ongoing on the Gatuna-Kigali highway and diverted cargo trucks to the Mirama Hills-Kagitumba border post, nearly 114kms away.
According to Mugambage, Ugandans are free to enter Uganda from other points like the Mirama Hills-Kagitumba border.
Mugambage also says Rwandans are being held incommunicado and tortured in Uganda and their relatives have allegedly been denied access to their people.
Traders count losses
Meanwhile, traders and drivers whose cargo trucks have been parked at Katuna border since Wednesday, are counting losses as their perishable goods have started going bad.
“We left Mombasa in Kenya and reached Katuna border town on Wednesday hoping to proceed and deliver the salt that we are carrying only to find an order of no entry. I have spent about Kshs10,000 (about Shs370,000) because of this delay unlike before when I could use only Kshs5,000 (Shs185,000). I have been using three days to drive merchandise from Mombasa to Kigali through Katuna border, but because of the border closure issues, I have already spent six days and not sure how long it will take to open the border. I do not have enough fuel to drive through Mirama hills,” Mr Denis Mwaka told Daily Monitor.
The most affected are traders that deal in agricultural products that can easily go bad such as; oranges, mangoes, fish and Irish potatoes among others. Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) on Wednesday said cargo trucks from Uganda were blocked at Katuna/Gatuna border to pave way for the upgrade of the one-stop border post.
Other drivers of trucks carrying building materials and other processed goods from Uganda say that the money budgeted for the route from Mombasa to Kigali has already been used up during the four days they have been stuck at the border.