Bunagana Border Post
Bunagana Boarder Post: The Bunagana border station, which connects Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is situated 14 kilometers from Kisoro in the southwest of the country. Many individuals utilize the border post to cross into Congo from Uganda and vice versa. Because Uganda is a landlocked nation, the various border posts facilitate the conduct of business within the nation. The border post is also utilized as an entry point for imports and an exit point for exports. People who are looking for safer options to enter the Democratic Republic of the Congo might use the Mpondwe border station. Additional borders are those that separate Uganda and Rwanda through the Cyanika and Katuna borders, as well as those that separate Kenya and Uganda through Malaba and the Busia borders, among several others.
The immigration procedure is conducted at this border post.
Before being allowed to enter either of the two countries—Congo or Uganda—people crossing the border ought to go through a procedure. If you have the necessary documentation, the process is rather simple and you will be permitted to pass over in the minimum amount of time. The steps involved are as follows:
Presenting identity documents, such as passports or national identity cards, in order to pass through customs.
Checking the documentation
After the documents are shown to the individuals and confirmed, stamps are given to indicate that they are now free to cross over.
Requirements for crossing borders:
Valid passport, VISA, and yellow fever card
Protection and safety measures at the border
In order to ensure the safety of the populace, the border between Uganda and the Congo was closed for a period of 20 months following the defeat of the M23 rebels. The reason for the closure of the Bunagana post was political instability in the Congo at the time, and it was also used as a military base for the rebels for a while.
By deploying the military to guard those who can cross the border safely, the Ugandan government has now assured security on both the Ugandan and Congolese sides of the border. The military will protect civilians and prevent any political disturbances from occurring.
Numerous clearing and forwarding businesses operate at the border post, handling freight and merchandise at the entrance ports. The companies are in charge of stopping the smuggling of products within nations at the border post at Bunagana.
Points of interest near the border post
In addition to the border post, there are a lot of interesting places nearby that you should check out, like the Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda.
Half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is situated in the Kigezi region of Southwest Uganda. There are four areas in the park where gorilla trekking is possible: Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. These areas are home to the various gorilla families in Uganda. In addition to the mountain gorillas, the park is home to a variety of animal species, including golden cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, clawless otter, side-striped jackal, civet, numerous bats and rodents, and primates like the black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’hoest’s monkeys, De Brazza monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Potto, Demidoff’s Galago, Spectacled Galago, Baboons, and Chimpanzee. This will add interest to your visit to the park, where you may engage in activities like hiking with gorillas and becoming accustomed to them, experiencing the Batwa Trail, and birdwatching along several routes.
Virunga National Park: Located Southwest of the border, Virunga National Park is home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas found on the slopes of Nyamuragira and Mikeno. Compared to Rwanda and Uganda, where gorilla trekking costs $1500 and 600 dollars respectively, gorilla trekking in the Congo is less expensive at $400.
See the several groups of Congolese gorillas and the Virunga Mountains, which include the active Nyiragongo Mountain where lava is emerging from the earth’s crust like a river flow, among other things, as you visit the Virunga National Park. Take a look at the amazing experience by going to the park.
Ugandan visitors can enter the park via the Bunagana border post and then continue to the Bukima post, which is often where gorilla trekking in the park begins.