The Gatuna border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda was reopened last weekend after almost four years of near inactivity but with priority given to cargo trucks and essential travelers from either side due to COVID-19, officials announced Thursday.
Earlier this week, Yolande Makolo, the Government Spokesperson emphasized via twitter that health officials from both countries were working on joint Covid-19 protocols which will enable all people to cross on both sides.
Dr Jean Luc Benimana, an epidemiologist coordinating the Rwanda Biomedical Centre team at Gatuna border told local media Thursday hat they initially had 10 officers on ground but he arrived Sunday night with nine more to boost the RBC team at the border.
“We don’t know how many people will be passing through here on a daily basis so it’s better to be ready so that we cater for any eventual huge numbers and avoid overcrowding and unnecessary delays,” the senior Rwandan health official said.
“We have a vaccination team and all others ready to provide requisite services to Rwandans and even foreigners. But vaccination is only for Rwandan nationals.”
Non-essential travel discouraged, it said.
Shedding light on the fact that there was no massive cross-border movements even as the border resumed operations, Marcellino Mwesigye, Uganda’s Assistant Commissioner Immigration Inspections, referred Ugandan journalists to the government of Rwanda’s statement
CU/abj/APA