{{Two Ministers for East African Affairs from Rwanda and Uganda on Friday, commended the progress that has been made since the establishment of “One Border Post” at Gatuna.}}
Both Ministers Mukaruriza Monique of Rwanda and Shem Bangeine of Uganda made the remarks while visiting Gatuna Border to identify challenges Border users face and also find solutions for the implementation of common market protocol.
Mukaruriza said since the existence of one border post, service delivery has improved.
Currently Gatuna Border operates 24 hours a day and about 200 trucks use the Border to Rwanda each day.
Although progress has been made, Rwandan transporters said there is a political good will on Integration but its implementation is still a challenge.
Murenzi Theodore, the representative of Rwanda Long Distance Truck Drivers Union said that Rwandan drivers still experience a big number of police checks at Uganda side, and this can cause some other unnecessary interactions and offence leading to corruption.
Murenzi added that currently there is a problem of Weight Bridge to facilitate the loading control noting that 60 trucks waiting to pass through the one weight bridge located at Gatuna is time consuming
“We encourage having some new technologies that can enhance this service.” He said.
Murenzi said the two Ministries should establish the hotline that may help in reporting cases where the transporters rights are violated.
However Rwanda has already created 2525 to settle issues related to traffic management and other complaints.
Challenges also have been noticed on the side of Border management.
Emmanuel Butera, the Coordinator of Gatuna Border said there is inadequate knowledge of EAC members especially Border Community which are not able to take advantages of EAC.
Some residents were said to pass through Borders peripherals to avoid paying taxes.
Butera also raises the problem of Harmonization of Common market protocol as well as infrastructure challenges can hinder the progress of service delivery.
Both Uganda and Rwanda have agreed to create uniform traffic laws so that there is no specific law applicable in Uganda and another one in Rwanda.
Uganda Minister of East African Affairs Shem Bangeine pledged that challenges raised by Rwanda transporters will be solved as soon as possible.
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