By Ebi Kesiena
Thousands of residents from Gicumbi District and neighbouring areas and their counterparts from Kabale in Uganda showed up at the Gatuna border for a celebration organised by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Wednesday.
In March 2022, the Gatuna Border Post between Rwanda-Uganda, located in Gicumbi District, was officially fully reopened after three years of closure, following different discussions between both countries mainly championed by Kainerugaba.
The celebrations dubbed Katuna-Gatuna border reopening thanksgiving were organized by Muhoozi, a Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations. He is also a first son in Uganda.
Part of the activities included a friendly football game played between Kigezi Select and Gicumbi FC at Kigezi High School playground hosted in Kabale District. The game ended with a 4-2 score in favour of the Ugandan side.
Speaking at the event, Mayor of Gicumbi, Emmanuel Nzabonimpa, welcomed the crowd noting that there will be free movement of people and goods across the border since its reopening in 2022.
“Our population now crosses into Uganda, and everyone is free to go for business or family affairs. Everyone is happy that the border is open, and so are Ugandans,” he said.
Telesphore Basesayose, one of more than 150 youth from Gicumbi District who attended the thanksgiving ceremony, said that the event meant a lot for the two countries and they were excitedly given a warm welcome by their neighbors in Uganda.The celebrations will also feature the ‘Rukundo Egumeho’ concert in Kabale Town to celebrate the restoration of bilateral ties between Uganda and Rwanda and the reopening of the common border.
Dozens of musicians from both Rwanda and Uganda, including Massamba Intore, Bebe Cool, Spice Diana, will perform at the concert.
