Panel to hear Rwanda border closure constituted

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  A three-member panel of the East African Court of Justice has been constituted to hear the case challenging the decision by Rwanda to close Uganda Rwanda border points in Gatuna and Chanika.

The panel comprises of Justice Monica Mugenyi, the Principal Judge of the East African Court of Justice, Deputy Principle Judge Dr Faustin Ntezilyayo and Justice Charles Nyachae.  They will hear the petition on November 11th.

In April 2019, Ugandan lawyer Steven Kalali through his lawyers of Opolot and Company Advocates petitioned the East African Court of Justice-EACJ arguing that the actions of Rwanda closing its border infringed on the rights of movement and also caused financial loss to a number of traders. 

He further argued that the decision to close the borders on February 27th contravened the Common Market Protocol and the East African Community treaty which allows free movement of goods and services because Rwanda is a signatory to the treaty.  

According to the notice issued by the Registrar Yufnalis Okubo, the parties including the Attorney General of Rwanda and Kalali are summoned to appear at the the court Headquarters in Arusha.

In June, Rwanda through their Senior State Attorney Nicholas Ntarugera filed part of their defence why the border was closed. They argued that they wanted to protect their citizens from harassment.

Rwanda also argued that the closure of Chanika and Gatuna borders was meant to help in speeding up the construction of one-stop border post which is aimed at easy movement of goods and services at the border.

In September, President Museveni and Paul Kagame commenced talks aiming at the opening of the border. This was after the two presidents signed the peace agreement in Luanda Angola.

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