Government reopens Bunagana border post to traders
The Bunagana border post in Kisoro District.
What you need to know:
The border post in Kisoro District had been closed over fears that the M23 rebels were collecting revenue to aid their activities.
The government has reopened Bunagana border post in Kisoro District, which was closed last month.
The resident district commissioner, Mr Ahamed Doka, said the move is to allow local trade between Uganda and DRC and only traders with vehicles carrying not more than 10 tonnes would be allowed to cross the border.
“We received a communication from State House to reopen the border,” Mr Doka said.
He added: “Only light vehicles of less than 10 tonnes, boda bodas motor bikes and traders using bicycles will be allowed to cross to either country.”
The border was temporarily closed to deny the M23 rebels revenue, which they were collecting from trucks ferrying goods through the held territory in eastern DRC.
Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and DR Congo traders were using Bunagana route because it was shorter, especially when connecting to Goma and Rusthuru towns.
The closure of the border post denied hundreds of traders access to food and goods, and also affected the area’s revenue.
Ms Mary Wamahoro, a resident, said about 100 Congolese children, who were studying at Bunagana Primary School, did not sit for their end of year examinations since the route was closed two weeks earlier.
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