The border points between Uganda and Rwanda remain prohibited months after a standout broke out between the two nations over allegations of interference in the affairs of each other by the respective nations.
However, Uganda has maintained that Rwandan nationals are free to continue coming into Uganda for business and pleasure even though their counterparts south have been blocked prompting illegal crossings by desperate rwandese nationals culminating in death of a woman in march as she tried to access Uganda to buy home supplies.
The Uganda government in the meantime maintains that the country is open to Rwandan nationals. Speaking before the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, Ambassador Hillary Onek reiterated that “as far as Uganda is concerned, our borders are open for business whether by road or air”.
Indeed flights from Rwanda via Air Rwanda are still operating at normal capacity, even though the ban on goods from crossing over via road is still being witnessed at border points. The new vision of Monday reported that cargo trucks to Rwanda were being denied entry and were forced to return to Uganda.
This raises a serious concern of double standards on behalf of the Rwandan authorities. Just as it is in similar crises world over, it seems that its the poor that bare the brunt of the conflict. The ones with no access to basic necessities like food and medical care, who relied on Ugandan shops and hospitals while the rich can safely fly in and out with no questions asked.
Another Rwandan national, Lambert Sabaho, in kisoro ended up dead on Tuesday night when unknown assailants travelling in a car trailed and shot him dead just outside his gate taking nothing.
This is a repeat of incidents that led to the arrest and charge of a number of police officers who were suspected of aiding Rwandan elements targeting nationals living in Uganda both for repatriation and in other cases just like this one, for murder.
Rwanda has made a number of allegations against Uganda, however we are yet to hear of a death of Ugandan national in Rwanda in similar circumstances.
Without a cessation of hostilities from authorities, this is a situation that can only get worse and it is not helped by careless utterances from high ranking Rwandan officials on social media especially Twitter.
Both of us need each other, but first we must respect our sovereignty, well being and freedoms of the citizens we seek to protect.
