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Doubts Come a Day After Uganda, Rwanda Sign Pact

Halima Athumani

   KAMPALA, UGANDA - A day after the presidents of Uganda and Rwanda
   signed an agreement to lower tensions that led to a six-month border
   closure, political and economic analysts are casting doubt on what will
   follow. Observers say underlying trade issues have not been addressed.

   The agreement signed Wednesday by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and
   Rwanda President Paul Kagame is being only hesitantly welcomed in both
   countries.

   In the pact the two leaders agree to respect each other's sovereignty
   and avoid action that could destabilize either country. But analysts
   say the deal does not address underlying issues that led to the closure
   of the border.

   In Late February, Rwanda closed the border at the Gatuna-Katuna
   crossings in the Kisoro district. Since then, Rwanda citizens
   reportedly were advised not to enter Uganda, and business came to a
   standstill, with Ugandan traders denied entry into Rwanda.

   Kiiza Africa, an economic analyst with the regional trade body SEATINI
   (the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations
   Institute), recorded complaints from 6,000 traders, 70 percent of whom
   were women, during the border closure.

   He said even though the agreement indicates the two countries will open
   the border, including movement of persons and goods, the traders will
   not withdraw their legal case.

   "The East African Court of Justice should pronounce itself that no such
   a thing should ever happen again in the region. Another, which is the
   core of the case, compensation for the affected parties, who are the
   cross-border women, the informal traders, that has not been done," said
   the analyst.

   Since the border closure, Uganda's Ministry of Trade recorded an
   intra-trade loss with Rwanda of $920 million by the end of July.

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