Ntungamo – Construction of Mirama Hills One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at the Rwanda/Uganda border at Kagitumba (Rwanda) has been completed. The border post includes key sections such as customs and immigration, a goods inspection hall, a clearing agency block and a police post, among others. While receiving the facility from the contractor, Dott Services, Uganda’s works ministry permanent secretary, Alex B. Okello, the cautioned against vandalism, saying the vice had become a serious challenge for government. The $7.8m facility was funded by TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) to facilitate trade between Uganda and Rwanda. The project and Rwanda’s OSBP at Kagitumba, also funded by TMEA, will contribute to reducing the time to transport goods between Kampala and Kigali, and therefore also contribute to reducing trade costs in East Africa. According to TMEA, the Mirama Hills/Kagitumba route is a shorter and less difficult compared to using the Katuna/Gatuna border post. “Operationalisation of a one stop border post at Kagitumba and Mirama Hills, besides decreasing the time for goods to be transported between Kampala and Kigali, it will increase the volume of traffic using this route.” The project is related to the TMEA supported projects that will provide improved information technology infrastructure, harmonised working procedures on both sides of the border, training for border agency staff, freight forwarders and traders and construction of the Mirama Hills road. Mirama Hills/Kagitumba are part of the tens of posts funded by TradeMark East frica with a view of increasing trade in the region. Four of the 13 are in Uganda, including Mirama Hills, Kagitumba, Malaba, Busia and Mutukula.
