The closure of the Gatuna border post between Uganda and Rwanda has affected a number of schools in border districts, URN reports.
Rwanda closed its borders with Uganda early this year, to purportedly expedite the construction of the single customs post at Gatuna.
During the time, the Rwandan government advised its nationals against crossing to Uganda on condition that they could not guarantee the safety of their nationals in the Ugandan territory.
Rwanda
accused Uganda of hosting and facilitating dissidents especially Rwanda
National Congress-RNC and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
FDLR, which have declared war on the Kigali government.
However, the directives which were followed with the destruction of all
temporary bridges near the border affected a number of Rwandan nationals, who
used to cross to the schools at the Uganda side of the border during school
time to access education services.
Hundreds of others were in boarding schools
within Uganda.
A number of schools have now reported a drastic fall in student numbers as
hundreds of Rwandan learners never reported for the second term of school that
started on May 27.
The deputy head teacher of Katuna Primary School Nazario Mubangizi says that
the school had 105 Rwandan pupils out of the total population of 355 pupils.
Mubangizi says that the student population has since fallen to 250 pupils, as a
number of Rwandan learners reported difficulty in crossing the porous borders
to access the school.
Joab
Tumwebarize, the Director of Kabale Trinity College in Kabale Municipality says
that all the students who crossed to Rwanda during first term holidays never
reported back to school for the second term.
Ronald Beinomugisha Katungi, the Public Relations Officer of Bishop Barham University College Kabale-a constituent College of Uganda Christian University, says that about 120 students were blocked from crossing to study during the April intake.
Beinomugisha
adds that another five theology students were blocked from crossing to Uganda
for their graduation.
He appeals to the governments of both countries to settle the matter so that
business returns to normal.
Jean-Batista Byaruhanga, a parent from Burera district in northern Rwanda says
they received an order from authorities restraining them from crossing to
Uganda for any service. Byaruhanga appeals to Rwandan President, Paul Kagame to
open the border and save his own people from the suffering they have been
subjected to.
