Why The Rwanda-Uganda Border Is Yet To Fully Open

The enthusiasm around the reopening of Rwanda and Uganda's shared border on Monday has died down after only a few people were permitted to cross.

Both Ugandans and Rwandans were overjoyed by the new facility, which was expected to result in a large influx of people and products.

However, Uganda's communications minister, Chris Baryomunsi, tells the BBC Great Lakes that he "doesn't know the reason" why people didn't cross as planned.

"Because both countries decided to reopen their borders," he says, he expected large flows.

The Rwandan government has blamed the problem on the Covid guidelines. However, a top official informed the BBC that "a few more things with Uganda need to be finalized before Rwandans are permitted to pass."

"We will deal with any unsolved concerns," the Ugandan minister added.

Due to political concerns, Rwandan authorities chose to seal its busiest land border with Uganda in early 2019. Last Monday, the country agreed to reopen it, just days after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni dispatched his son, an army general, to meet with President Paul Kagame.

More than ten persons, including two women, were killed by Rwandan security personnel during the three years the border was closed. The victims were shot while attempting to flee arrest or assaulting security agents, according to the police.

While the events of the day were a significant step forward, Jean-Paul Mugabo, who was unable to cross into Uganda, warned the BBC on Monday that "[the violence] might not be ended yet."

Rhoda Ahimbisibwe, whose husband Sidney Muhereza was shot dead on the Rwanda side in June 2020, has asked the authorities to reconcile.    

In June 2020, he was shot dead on the Rwandan side and has begged the authorities to reconcile.

"We are a single people... "We, the average people," she told the BBC, "need to be able to work together again."