Uganda tasks Rwanda to tell the truth over Gatuna border post closure

We are yet to establish if there is any reason beyond construction work.

Ofwono Opondo told a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre.

KAMPALA: May 1, 2019: The Ugandan government has engaged its Rwandan counterpart in talks over the closure of the Gatuna border post which is a major transit route for comercial vehicles crossing Uganda to Rwanda.

According to a press briefing by the Uganda government spokesman, Ofwono Opondo held at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Friday morning, Uganda is yet to establish if there is any reason beyond construction work that led to the closure of Gatuna border post.

By yesterday, Thursday, Rwanda government through the Rwanda Revenue Authority issued a statement that the Border was closed to allow expedition of construction work at the border.

According to Uganda’s government spokesman, however, Uganda seems to have been satisfied by the reason given by Rwanda to close the border

Opondo told the media that by morning not even school children were allowed to cross to Uganda. He revealed that many Rwandese children around the border are studying from Uganda and that they cross every morning and go back in the evening.

Ugandan now fear that this could be the results of the deteriorating diplomatic relationship as both countries accuse each other of espionage.

According to the East African, a regional media, Kigali accuses Kampala of arresting its nationals through arrests and torture and that Kigali has been advising its nationals not to travel to Kampala.

Kampala has however called for calm saying Rwanda is being engaged in talks for an amicable solution.

“The Hon. Sam Kutesa has been in engagement with talks and we hope this matter will be resolved quite quickly’ Opondo. Sam Kutesa is Uganda’s minister if foreign affairs.

Katuna town council chairperson, Nelson Nshangabasheija said that authorities are telling the people to keep calm as they wait for the next step.