Julius Nkunda
The East African Court of Justice has summoned the Attorney General of Rwanda and a Ugandan lawyer Steven Kalali to appear in court for the hearing of the border closure case.
According to the summons, the Registrar of East African Court of Justice\Yufnalis Okubo is summoning both parties to appear for the hearing which will take place on September 14, 2020, via video conferencing.
On February 27 2019, Rwanda closed its borders with Uganda, and also stopped its citizens from travelling to Uganda claiming that Ugandan authorities were abducting, arbitrarily arresting, jailing, torturing and illegally deporting Rwandans.
Following the closure, Kalali sued the government of Rwanda in the East African Court of Justice.
Kalali argued that the border closure contravenes the East African Community Treaty and the Common Market Protocol which allow free movement of people, goods and services across the bloc. Rwanda is a signatory to the treaty.
Kalali also noted that the actions of Rwanda have infringed on the rights and freedoms of its people, and those in neighbouring countries, and caused financial loss to hundreds of traders.
Last year, President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwandan Counterpart Paul Kagame held various meetings, but the talks suffered a setback because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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