The one-Stop-Border-Post will ease movement of people and their goods in either countries
Mr Jean Bosco Nfitemu and Ms Umutoni Mahoro, both frequent travellers from Rwanda, yesterday said under the one-stop-border-post arrangement, they come from Rwanda and cross straight into Ugandan immigration offices at Katuna, where they are cleared by both Rwandan and Ugandan immigration officers sitting under one roof and that the same happens for the travellers who cross from Uganda to Rwanda. The construction of the one-stop-border-post at Katuna border post in Kabale District was completed in October last year.
Cross-border trade and travel was halted at Gatuna on the Rwandan side after the Kigali government closed the border for three years, saying they were constructing the one-stop-border-post. It was reopened in March last year, bringing life to traders at Katuna Border Post on the Ugandan side.
The one-stop-border-post is a concept of immigration control and border management in the East African Community. Its main objectives include enhancing trade, promoting efficient movement of persons and goods, reducing the cost of doing business in the region and easing movement of persons and services within the community.
“I am personally grateful for this operationalisation of the one-stop-border-post arrangement because it is quick and convenient. Travellers clear once, unlike in the past where we had to jump out of the vehicles to clear on the Rwandan side, then walk to clear on the Ugandan side before boarding our vehicles again. It was time consuming and exhausting,” Mr Nfitemu said.
The senior immigration officer at Katuna Border Post, Mr Soter Kabyogamu, yesterday said since the one-stop-border-post arrangement was operationalised, the number of travellers from either countries have increased to about 1,500 per day, unlike in the past when the number was about 1,000.
“The increase of the number of travellers is partially attributed to the operationalisation of the one-stop-border-post in either countries. The flow of travellers is smooth and time-saving, unlike in the past where travellers had to go through clearance processes on either side of the country,” Mr Kabyogamu said.
Source: Monitor.co.ug; https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/new-katuna-border-post-eases-movement-4195990