Gatuna border reopens

Gatuna border reopens

Heavy trucks have been provisionally allowed to cross Gatuna One Stop Border Post (OSBP) with Uganda between 10th – 22nd June 2019 to carry out trials for heavy trucks movement.

In a letter dated June 7, 2019, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) Commissioner General Pascal Bizimana Ruganintwali informed the public that heavy trucks are provisionally allowed to cross the border in order to facilitate the trial activities as requested by Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA).

“Reference is made to Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) letter dated 7th June 2019, which expresses the need to carry out trials for the heavy trucks movement at Gatuna OSBP for a period of two (2) weeks from 10th up to 22nd June 2019, and assess the operationalization of the constructed works and equipment before the reception of works,” reads in part RRA statement signed by Commissioner General Ruganintwali.

“The Management of Rwanda Revenue Authority is pleased to inform the general public that heavy trucks are allowed to provisionally cross Gatuna OSBP between 10th-22nd June 2019 in order to facilitate these trial activities requested by RTDA,” adds the statement.

In February 2019, RRA closed for cargo trucks crossing through Gatuna border to give room for the completion of infrastructure upgrade at the one-stop border post.

Since 28th February 2019, cargo trucks were redirected to cross through Kagitumba border.

As IGIHE visited the construction site recently towards the end of May, workers on the Rwandan side were working tirelessly to have it completed the soonest possible.

Tarmac roads on Rwanda side have already been completed as efforts to make them green, planting grasses along the road sides are underway.

Buildings are also in final phases as workers are currently painting and doing other light works.

At the time, construction works stood at 96% on Rwanda side.

Gatuna border post project is expected to be completed at a cost of Rwf 15 billion.

Despite these efforts on Rwandan side, Uganda is not putting in much effort in the project.

By the time IGIHE visited the border recently, no works were being executed on the side of Uganda expect cattle seen grazing around the project’s premises with the presence of old structures.

The construction of some buildings has also stalled while no tarmac road has been built.