The Government Of Rwanda through its Foreign Affairs Ministry has cried to the the Government Of Uganda to block relief trucks heading to Burundi.
In a statement traced by this Website, Rwanda authorities stated that the government of Burundi is no longer allowing cargo trucks transiting through Rwanda to enter Burundi’s territory despite the decision of the meeting of Ministers for Health and East African Community Affairs held on 25th March 2020 directing Partner States to facilitate free moving of goods in the region during this period of lockdown as a response to the COVID-I9 Pandemic.
However, we’ve established that trouble erupted after Burundi confirming two COVID-19 patients nationals who had travelled to and through Rwanda.
Below is Rwanda letter to Uganda
REPUBLIC OF RWANDA
Rwanda High Commission
NOTE VERBALE
31/03/2020
The High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda in Kampala presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, and has the honour to deliver the attached Note Verbal dated, Ref. No. 164/09.01/CABMIN/20 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, informing that the Government of Burundi is no longer allowing cargo trucks transiting through Rwanda to enter Burundi’s territory despite the decision of the meeting of Ministers for Health and East African Community Affairs held on 25th March 2020 directing Partner States to facilitate free moving of goods in the region during this period of lockdown as a response to the COVID-I9 Pandemic.
Worthy to note that Rwanda has been allowing cargo trucks heading to Burundi to enter Rwanda territory in line with the directive.
As of 30th March 2020, there are twenty three (23) cargo trucks stranded at various border points due to the fact that cargo trucks transiting through Rwanda are being deny into Burundi by the Government of Burundi.
Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda wishes to communicate to the concerned institutions of the Republic of Uganda including customs offices, that since Burundi has effectively closed all its borders to cargo transiting through Rwanda, the Government of Rwanda will no longer allow entry on its territory to cargo trucks destined to Burundi.
The high Commission of the Republic of Rwanda avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, the $ co assurance of its highest consideration.
However, Sources say only trucks denied entry into Burundi belong to Rwanda while those from other countries were cleared.
Health officials in Burundi announced Tuesday the first two diagnosed cases there of the COVID-19 virus.
Health Minister Thadee Ndikumana said the two patients are Burundians, 56 and 42, who had arrived from Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates via Rwanda.
The patients were under quarantine at an isolation hotel in Bujumbura, he said, urging the public to embrace hygiene and social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the virus.