Burundi Border Closure Disrupts Trade Disrupts Uganda’s Exports

Uganda, a landlocked country, faces challenges in transiting its goods, particularly by road, to neighboring countries and the wider region, owing to conflicts, non-tariff barriers, and political tensions. The recent closure of the Burundi-Rwanda border has added to these challenges, adversely affecting Uganda’s exports despite its non-involvement in the tensions between Burundi and Rwanda.

The Burundi government’s decision to close its border with Rwanda, accusing Kigali of supporting rebels responsible for the killing of its nationals, came in the aftermath of a rebel group’s attack on a village in western Burundi, resulting in the loss of 20 lives. The closure has disrupted the transportation of goods from Uganda to Burundi, with the traditional route through Rwanda no longer viable.

Trucks carrying Ugandan goods destined for Burundi now face the necessity of rerouting through Tanzania, a longer and more costly route. William Busuulwa, the chairperson of Uganda National Transport Alliance, highlighted the financial implications, stating that transport costs have increased from around $3,300 to $4,000 for cargo weighing between 28 and 30 tonnes.

Uganda exports goods worth $65 million annually to Burundi, with major products including petroleum, electronics, and steel. The rise in transport costs is anticipated to result in increased prices for these goods in Burundi, potentially impacting trade relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza expressed uncertainty regarding the impact on Ugandan goods, emphasizing the need for further investigation. This incident is not the first time that goods from Uganda have been obstructed from reaching Burundi. In February 2019, Rwanda closed its border with Uganda, forcing traders to use the Tanzanian route and leading to a significant drop in trade between Uganda and Burundi.

President Museveni had proposed a road construction project to facilitate trade between Uganda and Burundi, starting from Isingiro District in Uganda, passing through northern Tanzania, and connecting to the Kobero border in Burundi. However, the project was shelved after the reopening of the Rwanda border.

Uganda, facing logistical challenges in various regions due to its landlocked status, encounters similar obstacles in South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.