President Yoweri Museveni (pictured )has advised the people of Kabale district to refrain from smuggling goods into Rwanda and instead engage in formal business.
In a statement provided by the presidential press unit, Museveni made the comment at the Katuna border as he returned from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital where he had gone to attend the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting-CHOGM.
“The border is now officially open. Engage yourselves in formal business for those who are in the commercial sector. The construction of the border post premises is ongoing to meet the required standards together with the road itself,” Museveni said.
Until early this year, Rwanda had closed all its land borders with Uganda for almost three years accusing it of targeting Rwandans. Efforts to have the two countries bury the hatchet all turned out negative. However, the tension eased after Uganda undertook drastic changes in the leadership of its security forces, dropping individuals Rwanda had accused of being the masterminds of the arrests.
About two months ago, the Rwandan president Paul Kagame visited Uganda after more than three years of staying away. Meanwhile, Museveni has asked the people of Kabale to focus on poverty eradication in homes. He urged the people to put into practice the objectives of the Parish Development Model (PDM) as the government has outlined to eradicate poverty in their individual homes.
“The scheme will benefit people who are on small landholding.” The President also told them that respective area MPs in the country will sensitize their people on how the fund will be accessed in their constituencies. “The other source of funds for your local communities is the Emyooga funds. This also supports people on small landholdings,” he said.
At the Katuna border post, Museveni was received by the Minister of State for Transport, Byamukama Fred, the Minister of State for Industry and area MP, David Bahati; the UPDF 2nd Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa, Kabale district, RDC Nyakahuma Godfrey, the Kabale LCV Chairman, Nshangabasheija Nelson, UNRA contractors and border post officials among others.
