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| A casket containing one of the bodies of two Ugandans killed by Rwandan police officers, during the handover on Tuesday |
Kampala, UGANDA
The government of Uganda has today issued a protest to the
Government of Rwanda, in regards to shootings by Rwandan Security Personnel
that continue to occur along the common shared Uganda-Rwanda border.
Job Ebyarishaga and
Bosco Tuhirwe were killed at Tabagwe village in Nyagatare District in Rwanda on
allegations of smuggling tobacco into the neighbouring East African country.
The Kigali
administration said on Sunday that the two traders were shot in self-defence
after they allegedly turned violent and assaulted police officers on duty.
However, government of
Uganda spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo said Tuesday that Kampala administration
had written to Rwanda asking for a joint investigation into the said murders
and also demanded that the perpetrators be held accountable.
The protest was
delivered to Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Maj Gen. Frank Mugambage, by
Ambassador Patrick Mugoya, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Uganda.
“The Government of Uganda protests in the
strongest terms the murder of its nationals by Rwandan security personnel for
allegedly being involved in smuggling of goods across the common border. The
alleged crime cannot justify the high handed and criminal act by the Rwandan
security personnel, against unarmed civilians residing along the common border.
Furthermore, the
Ministry notes that these murders are inimical to the ongoing efforts to
improve relations between the two countries.
The Ministry demands that a joint
investigation in the murders be conducted and the perpetrators held
accountable,” a statement issued by Ofwono reads in part.
Ofwono further said
the Kampala administration was also concerned about an incident in which a
Rwandan national was shot and severely wounded on Rwandan territory, while
returning from Ugandan territory and was forced to flee back to Uganda.
One Peter Havugimana,
28, a resident of Kabaya village, Gishari Parish in Rubaya Sub-county, Gicumbi
District was on November 4 received by Ugandan authorities at Rushaki B Cell,
Karujanga Parish, Rubaya Sub-county, Kabale District after being shot in the
shoulder from about 200 meters in Rwanda, on the border with Uganda.
Havugimana was shot
while carrying about 10 kilogrammes of potatoes from Uganda into Rwanda. After
the shooting, he ran back into Uganda territory for safety.
He was rushed to Katuna
Police Station and thereafter referred to Katuna Community Clinic for further
management.
“The Government of
Uganda considers the shooting incident a grave matter and that although the
latest victim is Rwandan, it constitutes a pattern of reckless and high-handed
acts on the part of Rwanda security personnel, against simple, ordinary people
that live along the common border. The Government of
Uganda is ready to hand Peter Havugimana to the relevant Rwanda Government
authorities, if he wishes to return,” Ofwono added.
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