Thousands of residents, mostly youth from Gicumbi District and neighbouring areas and their counterparts from Kabale in Uganda showed up at the Gatuna border for a celebration organised by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on April 19.

The celebrations dubbed Katuna-Gatuna border reopening thanksgiving were organized by Muhoozi, a Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations. He is also a first son in Uganda.

ALSO READ: Gatuna border fully reopens for ordinary passengers after 3 years

Part of the activities included a friendly football game played between Kigezi Select and Gicumbi FC at Kigezi High School playground hosted in Kabale District. The game ended with a 4-2 score in favour of the Ugandan side.

Speaking to The New Times, Emmanuel Nzabonimpa, the Mayor of Gicumbi welcomed the celebrations noting that there is free movement of people and goods across the border since its reopening in 2022.

"Our population now crosses into Uganda, and everyone is free to go for business or family affairs. Everyone is happy that the border is open, and so are Ugandans,” he said.

ALSO: Rwanda-Uganda trade on the rise, new figures show

Telesphore Basesayose, one of more than 150 youth from Gicumbi District who attended the thanksgiving ceremony, said that the event meant a lot for the two countries and they were excitedly given a warm welcome by their neighbors in Uganda.

The celebrations will also feature the ‘Rukundo Egumeho’ concert in Kabale Town to celebrate the restoration of bilateral ties between Uganda and Rwanda and the reopening of the common border.

Dozens of musicians from both Rwanda and Uganda, including Massamba Intore, Bebe Cool, Spice Diana, will perform at the concert.

In March 2022, the Gatuna Border Post between Rwanda-Uganda, located in Gicumbi District, was officially fully reopened after three years of closure, following different discussions between both countries mainly championed by Kainerugaba.