Border post construction brings hope to traders

The new immigration centre at Mirama Hills border post. PHOTO BY PEREZ RUMANZI

What you need to know:

The Mirama border post will have offices for security agencies, immigration and revenue personnel, weigh bridges, stores and bonded warehouses.

Ntungamo

Traders crossing the Uganda-Rwanda border for business will soon have their work movement made easier following the rehabilitation of the customs office for smooth movement of goods and services from either country.

The border post undergoing reconstruction will have offices for security agencies, immigration and revenue personnel, weigh bridges, stores and bonded warehouses. A market for daily trade shall also be constructed for small commodities including food stuffs and other items which has not been common at the border.

Ntungamo District chairperson Denis Singahache said lack of good customs facilities has undermined business across the border despite the opening of the newly constructed border entry at Mirama Hills.

“Our people have been failing to do proper trade in basic commodities because they lack clearance. Travelling up to Katuna (major border post on Rwanda border) has been too much for our traders here. Most of the people had opted to smuggling because it has been the only way to get goods inside and out of Rwanda,” Mr Singahache said.

The construction is in the final stages with major structures including bonded houses, security and immigration offices at either side already being occupied. Two bridges shall also be constructed at the river separating the two countries.
The Uganda National Roads Authority spokesperson, Mr Dan Alinage, said the intention is to create a one-stop border post with all the requirements being done at the same place.

“This will ease trade and promote marketing at both sides,” Mr Alinange said.
Other entry points under construction include Bunagana on the Uganda-Rwanda-Congo border, Busia on the Uganda-Kenya border, Arua in West Nile and Malaba on Uganda-Kenya crossing, according to Mr Alinange.

THE POST

Mirama Hills border post was the major entry at the Uganda Rwanda crossing but was destroyed during the 1979 war against Idi Amin. The remaining structures were brought down during the 1990–1994 Rwanda liberation war. Nothing had been put up since.

It is a shorter distance through Mirama Hills to Kigali. Border business has been diverted to Katuna in Kabale District, about 100km longer to Kigali. Mirama border is 23km from Ntungamo Town and can be accessed through Kikagate on the Uganda Tanzania border, about 25km away. It is 120km from Ntungamo Town to Katuna border.