• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Science
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Tech
Rwanda over the closure of the border

Traders Slam Uganda, Rwanda Over Partial Border Reopening

February 4, 2022
Use of TIN

Museveni clarifies deployment of troopes in Eastern Congo

April 1, 2023
Express overcome Onduparaka in Kampala

Express overcome Onduparaka in Kampala

March 31, 2023
Vipers SC in the quest to pick up their first win in the CAFCL

Vipers SC in the quest to pick up their first win in the CAFCL

March 31, 2023
Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana speak to public for the first time after release

Why NUP has sidelined MPs Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana

March 30, 2023
Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana speak to public for the first time after release

Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana speak to public for the first time after release

March 29, 2023
UDB, Partners earmark 180, 000 smallholder farmers in new financial scheme

UDB, Partners earmark 180, 000 smallholder farmers in new financial scheme

March 28, 2023
Tayebwa heaps praises on King Ceasor Mulenga T.G at the graduation ceremony

Tayebwa heaps praises on King Ceasor Mulenga T.G at the graduation ceremony

March 28, 2023
Police arrest women who cuts off husband’s manhood

Police arrest women who cuts off husband’s manhood

March 28, 2023
Karamoja iron sheet saga:  Police arrest protesters

Karamoja iron sheet saga: Police arrest protesters

March 29, 2023
UDB emerges overall winner as Prudential awards best HR managers

UDB emerges overall winner as Prudential awards best HR managers

March 28, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
News 24/7
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Business
    • Politics
    • Science
    • World
    Use of TIN

    Museveni clarifies deployment of troopes in Eastern Congo

    Express overcome Onduparaka in Kampala

    Express overcome Onduparaka in Kampala

    Vipers SC in the quest to pick up their first win in the CAFCL

    Vipers SC in the quest to pick up their first win in the CAFCL

    Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana speak to public for the first time after release

    Why NUP has sidelined MPs Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana

    Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana speak to public for the first time after release

    Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana speak to public for the first time after release

    UDB, Partners earmark 180, 000 smallholder farmers in new financial scheme

    UDB, Partners earmark 180, 000 smallholder farmers in new financial scheme

    Tayebwa heaps praises on King Ceasor Mulenga T.G at the graduation ceremony

    Tayebwa heaps praises on King Ceasor Mulenga T.G at the graduation ceremony

    Karamoja iron sheet saga:  Police arrest protesters

    Karamoja iron sheet saga: Police arrest protesters

    UDB emerges overall winner as Prudential awards best HR managers

    UDB emerges overall winner as Prudential awards best HR managers

    Egypt’s diplomatic campaign against GERD, a threat to Africa’s Progress

    Egypt’s diplomatic campaign against GERD, a threat to Africa’s Progress

    Trending Tags

    • Donald Trump
    • Future of News
    • Climate Change
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    Express overcome Onduparaka in Kampala

    Express overcome Onduparaka in Kampala

    Vipers SC in the quest to pick up their first win in the CAFCL

    Vipers SC in the quest to pick up their first win in the CAFCL

    St Mary’s Kitende win Kitende zonal finals

    St Mary’s Kitende win Kitende zonal finals

    St Mary’s Kitende win Kitende zonal finals

    Adebayor calls it a day to his mixed career of triumph and controversy

    Adebayor calls it a day to his mixed career of triumph and controversy

    KCCA FC host Mbarara city

    KCCA FC host Mbarara city

    Lapaire, News 24/7 sign partnership

    Lapaire, News 24/7 sign partnership

    fred-enanga Police spokesperson

    Noise polluters to be prosecuted – Police

    VIDEO; Chameleon and weasel filmed kissing in Public…Again

    Mandela national stadium namboole

    Five years later: Uganda Cranes still homeless

  • Watch Now
  • Sports
  • Shot Stories
  • Fact Checker
No Result
View All Result
News 24/7
No Result
View All Result
Home News Business

Traders Slam Uganda, Rwanda Over Partial Border Reopening

URN.In 2020, Uganda’s exports to the country were worth just 2 million dollars, with traders trying to use Kyanika and Mirama Hills since Katuna was shut.

Dorothy Nalumansi by Dorothy Nalumansi
February 4, 2022
in Business
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Rwanda over the closure of the border
ADVERTISEMENT

Trade rights advocates in the region have decided not to withdraw their case against the governments of Uganda and Rwanda over the closure of the border almost three years ago, even after Rwanda announced it was re-opening it. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Rather, the groups, the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI), and the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT), say what is happening at the border has not changed the situation for cross-border traders. 

In the 2019 Public Interest Case, the three sought the East African Court of Justice to, among others, declare that the act infringed the East African Treaty and violated the provisions of several articles of the Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Common Market. 

ADVERTISEMENT

These touch on the free movement of persons, goods, and capital, which have been affected by the closure of the border.  The suit followed an outcry from the small-scale traders at the border who reasoned that they should have been given notice before, of the intending closure of the border, so that they prepare for the businesses to close or relocate. 

Miria Akankwasa Tugume quit her occupation as a trader two years after closing her shop at Katuna due to the prolonged border closure, and she joined politics. Fortunately for her, she was elected a councilor to the Kabale District Council.

Tugume says for example, that she had supplied customers in Rwanda, who were yet to pay her when the border closed, and that this also is the situation with other business operators. 

There are currently no statistics regarding the losses incurred by the people who relied on cross-border trade but according to the Bank of Uganda trade statistics, Uganda’s average monthly exports to Rwanda plunged to 4 million dollars in 2019 from 18 million in 2018. 

In 2020, Uganda’s exports to the country were worth just 2 million dollars, with traders trying to use Kyanika and Mirama Hills since Katuna was shut. 

In the suit, the NGOs want the EACJ to declare that the act of closing the border posts and denying the accessibility of traders and citizens from either side violates the EAC protocols. 

They also seek a permanent injunction against the two partner states on the closure of the border posts and violation of the economic rights of people who carry on cross-border trade between the two countries. 

The suit also implores the court to issue an order that the two partner states make an economic and social audit to ascertain the extent of damage to the people and that the two governments adequately compensate the businesses affected by the closure of the border posts. 

They also want an order that the border posts be completely opened with immediate effect “without any limitations whatsoever.” 

The government of Rwanda said on Monday that they were not fully re-opening as a way of protecting her citizens against covid 19. 

Sheila Kawamara, the Executive Director, EASSI says they cannot withdraw the case against the two countries because the governments have continued to negate their duties. 

On why they sued Uganda jointly with Rwanda yet the border was unilaterally closed by Rwanda, Kawamara said Uganda did not seek redress for the three-year period, which makes it jointly liable.  

Deborah Kyarisiima, another trader expressed disappointment that only trucks are being allowed into Rwanda, yet the pedestrians and cyclists are the ones who boost trade along the borders.  She says the reopening of the border in its current form is useless to them, though it gives some hope of full reopening soon. 

Kyarisiima calls on the two countries to talk honestly and find a lasting solution to the border grievances. 

Assan Msimiraho, another trader on his part says the government of Uganda should find ways of rescuing the traders financially, as has been with businesses that were affected by Covid 19. 

Some of these measures can be in terms of soft loans or direct financial handouts, as the government has been doing over the last two years to tame the effects of Covid 19. 

But for Msimiraho, for as long as the Rwandans are not allowed to cross into Uganda, the business will remain down.

Apart from the closure of the border and the now partial closure, the business community has been finding challenges operating across borders because each country seems to have its own policies, despite the provisions for integration. These range from tax regimes, to road levies.

Rwanda and Tanzania have been accused of levying varying charges depending on the country a truck is from, yet the policies are supposed to be uniform, according to the traders. 

Akankwasa says unless policies are harmonized, including the new ones like covid 19 testing, trade in the region will always have challenges. 

The NGOs want a permanent solution and measures to ensure that such occurrences should not happen again. 

Apart from the socio-economic effects of border closures and other disputes between countries on the citizens, they send a bad image about the EAC to the international community.  

This also affects the confidence of foreign investors in the region’s business environment since investors prefer operating under predictable policies. 

SEATINI Uganda Chief Executive Jane Nalunga is more concerned that the East African Community, which has been hailed as a shining example of African integration, is embroiled in political disputes and non-tariff barriers, as well as competition amongst themselves. 

She says unless the authorities do not work for the good of the people, the integration process is irrelevant.

for more click here        

ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

UGX 536 Billion for Gov’t Projects Not Utilized- Auditor General

Next Post

DPP Asks Court to Dismiss Kakwenza’s Application for Relaxation of Bail Terms

Dorothy Nalumansi

Dorothy Nalumansi

Next Post
Kakwenza Rukirabashaija

DPP Asks Court to Dismiss Kakwenza’s Application for Relaxation of Bail Terms

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Why more Ugandans in diaspora want policy on migrant workers reviewed

UAE stops Issuance of 30-day Visas to Ugandans

October 24, 2022
Kampala Massage

“I have live sex with 18 clients a day” – Kampala massage therapist

October 2, 2022

Muhoozi Promotion is Actually a demotion – Solomon Serwanjja

October 5, 2022
Immaculate Kibekyenga Corruption unit

Anti Corruption unit saves Girl from Saudi Organ Harvest racket

5
4.8 Billion Collected in Traffic Police Operations

4.8 Billion Collected in Traffic Police Operations

3
Doctor on ebola frontline speaks to us annonymously

“We are denied PPE, threatened and intimidated” – Exclusive Interview with a doctor on the Ebola Frontline

3
Use of TIN

Museveni clarifies deployment of troopes in Eastern Congo

April 1, 2023
Express overcome Onduparaka in Kampala

Express overcome Onduparaka in Kampala

March 31, 2023
Vipers SC in the quest to pick up their first win in the CAFCL

Vipers SC in the quest to pick up their first win in the CAFCL

March 31, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
News 247

Copyright © 2021 24/7 Broadcasting Ltd. [email protected]

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Virtual Exhibition
    • Politics
    • Business
    • World
    • Science
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Health
    • Travel
  • Shot Stories
  • Fact Checker

Copyright © 2021 24/7 Broadcasting Ltd. [email protected]