The new Mirama Hills one-stop border post between Rwanda and Uganda, one of now 13 in the East African region, was handed over to the border, security, and customs agencies during the week from the two countries now manning the new facility.
Funded by Trade Mark East Africa, it is one of the measures taken to improve the flow of goods when trading across the region, but also encourages additional travel activities by cutting down on red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy when crossing the border.
Citizens of Uganda and Rwanda can travel from one country to another using ID cards (or in Uganda’s case, even voter’s cards) after passport requirements were abandoned when the Northern Corridor Integration Projects countries fast-tracked the movement of people and goods – something the East African Community at large had for a long time failed to do.
Mirama Hills is the nearest border crossing between the two countries for travellers coming from Uganda. The area is expected to also see the new Standard Gauge Railway line from the border of Uganda with Kenya, via Kampala and on to Kigali. Due to the terrain however it is not likely to go on to Kabale from where the Gatuna border is nearest.
Road developments on both sides of the border linking Uganda and Rwanda have also taken place, making travel by road easier; many people use buses between the two countries.
The cost of the new border post was just under US$8 million, and was constructed by Uganda’s Dott Services construction company.
