Tension as Rwanda restricts trucks from Uganda at border

Tension between two East African nations have escalated as cargo trucks from Uganda have been blocked from crossing into Rwanda at Gatunato pave the way for the upgrade of the one-stop border post, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) said Thursday.

The taxman, in a letter addressed to the Commissioner for Customs at Uganda Revenue Authority on Wednesday, said heavy trucks would be diverted to other border crossings.

The announcement followed complaints on social media of stranded citizens and truck drivers with deteriorating diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Uganda that has largely remained at the top seemed to have moved to the grassroots, interrupting their lives.

Both Kampala and Kigali accuse each other of espionage.

Kigali accuses Kampala of harassing its nationals through arrests and torture and has been advising Rwandans to restrict their travel to Uganda. Kampala denies the claim saying those detained are individuals suspected of spying.