Mpondwe Traders Struggle as Border Closure Cripples Business

The closure of the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha border point in Kasese District, which was implemented several weeks ago to contain the Ebola outbreak, has dealt a severe blow to cross-border trade and left many local traders struggling to survive. 

The border, a vital commercial link between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has for years been a bustling centre of economic activity, particularly in the fish trade. 

However, the restrictions have left once-busy streets deserted and businesses grappling with significant losses. Women, who dominate the cross-border fish trade, say they have been among the hardest hit because their main customers from the DRC are currently barred from entering Uganda. 

Suleiman Machozi, the Chairperson of Loaders and Off-loaders in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Market, expressed frustration over the continued restrictions, noting that many traders have watched their goods go bad due to the limited number of customers in the local market. 

Peruth Nanyonga, a fish trader, said she has been stranded for weeks because her middlemen from the DRC have been unable to cross into Uganda and pay for the fish they purchased. She fears the situation could be exploited by some middlemen to defraud her. 

Grace Masika, another trader, is appealing to the government to reconsider the total ban on pedestrian crossings by Congolese nationals, saying the restrictions are crippling the local economy. She noted that many traders rely on loans to sustain their businesses and are now struggling to meet their repayment obligations. 



However, Dr Monday Rude Julius, the Member of Parliament for Bukonzo East and an Ebola management expert, says that while business is important, the government’s decision is necessary to safeguard public health. He warned residents against attempting to circumvent official checkpoints, stressing that such actions could worsen the health crisis. 

Meanwhile, Lt. Maate Magwara, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner in charge of Bukhonzo County, clarified that although the border remains closed to Congolese pedestrians, cargo trucks and the exportation of cattle, goats and sheep are still permitted. 

He added that any Congolese national authorised to enter Uganda must undergo mandatory health screening measures, including temperature checks and handwashing protocols at the border. As of Monday this week, Uganda had registered 20 confirmed Ebola cases. 

Four patients remain in admission, while nine contacts are under active follow-up. A total of 817 people have completed the mandatory 21-day monitoring period and have been declared free of the disease.