Traders using Cyanika border between Rwanda and Uganda have appealed to authorities to increase working hours at the border to fully benefit from the East African Community (EAC) integration process.

They say that while several initiatives have been introduced to ease doing business in the region, such as use of identity cards to cross the border, One-Stop border at migration level, among others, they see no reason why the border should be open for only 16 hours.

They said that this affects their daily movements as they are obliged to cross the border at either side before 8pm.

"We are usually stranded as traders are expected to cross the border before 8pm,” said a money changer who preferred anonymity.

"While we had earlier appealed for the hours to be increased to at least 20 hours, I don’t see any reason the border shouldn’t operate for 24 hours,” he added.

While visiting Cyanika border on Tuesday, the Minister for EAC affairs, Valentine Rugwabiza, appreciated the way the border operates, especially at immigration service level where One-Stop border principle is applied and people are allowed to cross the border using their identity cards, among others.

She said that there are plans to increase working hours at Cyanika border to be like other border posts in the region.

"This border works for 16 hours while other borders operate for 24hours. We are going to discuss with our counterparts in Uganda to increase working hours,” said Amb. Rugwabiza.

Initiatives to ease business at Cyanika border have been hampered by poor infrastructure at the border but government has committed to construct a modern cross border market that will ease doing business.

Officials believe once complete, the market will help improve business at the border.

Jean Damacsene Munyankusi, the president of Private Sector Federation in the Northern Province cited lack of storage facilities among the major challenges they are facing.

The market, which government has since committed to finance after an investor pulled out of the project, will among others include a massive warehouse and parking lot for cargo trucks.