Rwanda-Uganda border reopening 2022 : The Rwanda-Uganda border was reopened on 31st January 2022 following closure of the border for about 2 years.
The Gatuna border as it is known or Katuna border is a major crossing point between the two countries and during the time of closure of this border, both Rwanda and Uganda were affected in different ways, Rwanda-Uganda border reopening 2022.
Following discussions between immigration officials from Rwanda and Uganda, measures for movements across the border was discussed putting into consideration the COVID 19 pandemic and safety of people traveling across the Gatuna or Katuna border.
The officials also came up with health protocols to be followed by those who will be using the Rwanda – Uganda border to cross into either countries like COVID 19 testing to be done by medical personnel.
Talks were also had between the president of Rwanda H.E Paul Kagame and the president of Uganda H.E Yoweri Museveni in regards to the opening of the Uganda-Rwanda border at Gatuna. Mr. Muhoozi Kainerugaba (son of President Museveni) also played an important role during talks of reopening the Gatuna border.
The reopening of the Gatuna border will greatly improve tourism in Uganda and Rwanda especially for tours that are done across both the countries by road. The Rwanda-Uganda border is used by both locals and foreigners.
However even with the reopening of the Gatuna border or Katuna border not all the issues between Uganda and Rwanda have been addressed but the reopening of the border is a first step to a better relationship between the two countries.
Both Uganda and Rwanda are East African countries and the reopening of the Rwanda – Uganda border will make it easy to move between the two countries and also improve the import and export sector in the two countries.
Another sector which was affected as a result of the closure of the Uganda- Rwanda border is the education sector since some students would attend schools in Uganda or Rwanda both for higher institution learners and those in lower classes.
Even with the reopening of the border there are some complaints about delays in crossing between the Rwanda and Uganda border and also difficulty in crossing at the Gatuna border.
Uganda also recently reopened the economy and most of the sectors in the country are operating freely following the COVID 19 protocols in place and with the reopening of the Rwanda border, there is a lot to look forward to in terms of business and leisure between Rwanda and Uganda.
Some of the health protocols and entry requirements put in place to reduce the spread of COVID 19 in Uganda include wearing of face masks, sanitizing and also entering the country with negative PCR test results. A test is also done at the Entebbe international airport upon arrival in Uganda.
During travel to Rwanda, some of the entry restrictions or COVID 19 protocols put in place include having a negative COVID 19 certificate with test results valid within 72 hours prior to departure, rapid tests carried out on arrival and another test to be done on day 3 from the day of arrival in Rwanda (at traveler’s cost), Rwanda-Uganda border reopening 2022.
The two countries both have a flourishing tourism industry and gorilla trekking is among the activities that can be carried out during tours to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in Uganda.
Apart from gorilla trekking during Uganda safaris, there are many other activities which can be carried out during safaris and they include game drives, hiking, bird watching, boat rides, cultural tours, chimpanzee trekking, white water rafting, rhino tracking, bungee jumping, zip lining and so much more.
Rwanda also has a lot to offer during safaris around the country including interacting with the locals and getting to know more about the kinyarwanda culture, chimpanzee tracking, canopy walks, bird watching, visiting Lake Kivu, visiting the genocide sites, wildlife viewing around the national parks among other activities.
For first time travel to Rwanda, some of the information you need to know includes Rwanda francs is the form of currency used, the languages spoken in Rwanda include French, English and Kinyarwanda, plastic bags are not allowed in Rwanda and the country can be visited at any time of the year. Rwanda is also referred to as the land of a thousand hills.
In Uganda, the currency used is Uganda shillings, English is the official language spoken and the country can also be visited at any time of the year. Uganda is also referred to as the pearl of Africa.
Even with the reopening of the Gatuna border for travels between Rwanda and Uganda, there is an option of flying to the two countries. The international airport of Rwanda is Kigali international airport and the airport of Uganda is Entebbe international airport and there are different airlines which operate in these airports taking people across other destinations across Africa and the world.
