George Bakunda, the Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner, blames the challenge of cargo trucks at the border on the stringent measures imposed by the Rwanda government.
More than fifty cargo truck drivers and their
turnboys are
stranded at Mirama Hills Border post in Ntungamo District. Most of the truck drivers say they have spent
between two to three weeks at the border after being denied entry into Rwanda.
Umar Jamal, a Kenyan truck driver, says Rwandan
authorities have set tough conditions for their clearance. They are required to
swap their trucks with local drivers stationed at Nyagatare inside Rwanda to
deliver the cargo to its final destination and deployed heavily to control their movement as some of the measures to control the spread of coronavirus disease.
//Cue in; “We are here…
Cue out…you cannot cross.”//
Karim Bagaaga, truck driver says that most of the trucks
handed over to Rwandan drivers have crashed in accidents, while those who manage
to cross the border are forced to drive at an unusual speed.
//Cue in; “Ekingana okuwayo motoka…
Cue out…mugwanga rya congo.”//
According to Bagaaga, their bosses have stopped them from swapping their trucks. Abdullah Yase, another truck
driver, says they are facing lots of challenges since they were stopped from
crossing.
Swahili //Cue in; “haapa iko naa…
Cue out…mpaka gali zinairibika.”//
Umar Ali Muhamed said they were tested for COVID-19 at Malaba
border in Uganda before continuing with their journeys. He says that those who were found to be positive have already been intercepted by Ugandan authorities.
//Cue in; “Our health is ok…
Cue out…you are not allowed,”//
George Bakunda, the Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner,
blames the challenge of cargo trucks at the border on the stringent measures
imposed by the Rwanda government. He, however, said they are engaging the Rwandan authorities to
resolve the stalemate.
//Cue in; “We have a …
Cue out…of these drivers.”//
Milton Rahuka, the South Western Region Customs
Operations Manager denies claims that the truckers are stranded and attributes
the problem to the new policies introduced by Rwanda to contain the spread of Covid-19.
