Uganda, April 10 -- For many years, people from West Nile spent exorbitantly to obtain passports, as the nearest centres were in Gulu and Kampala.

However, there was a sigh of relief on Thursday as the Internal Affairs Ministry opened the first centre in Arua city to cover the West Nile area, bringing an end to the cost and time spent in acquiring the much-needed item.

Mr Jamal Andama, the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Arua city, recalls how they faced challenges conducting business with the neighbouring countries due to travel challenges.

"For many years, we used to get passports from Kampala, and it could take like a year, with very many processes involved.''

Adding that; ''Sometimes you could lose money ...