Bunagana

Bunagana is a border town in the Western Region of Uganda, located in Kisoro District near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It sits opposite the Congolese town of Rutshuru in North Kivu Province and serves as a gateway for cross-border movement between Uganda and the DRC.

Administratively, Bunagana is part of Kisoro District and hosts a border post that handles customs and immigration for the crossing into the DRC. The town functions as a trade and transport hub, with informal markets and services that support both locals and travelers.

The local economy is driven largely by cross-border trade, small-scale agriculture from surrounding communities, and services for travelers and traders. The Bunagana border crossing connects to routes toward Rutshuru and other parts of eastern Congo, and road links connect Bunagana with Kisoro town and the broader Ugandan road network.

Security and stability in Bunagana are shaped by its location along the Uganda–DRC border. The area has experienced periods of regional instability and displacement linked to developments in eastern Congo, and Ugandan security forces have conducted operations in the border region to safeguard residents and maintain border control. Humanitarian considerations have at times accompanied fluctuations in border activity.

Demographically, Bunagana hosts Ugandan residents and a notable presence of Congolese traders and migrants who participate in cross-border commerce. The town remains relatively small compared with major Ugandan urban centers and is closely tied to the activities of the border crossing and adjacent markets.