UPDF, Kigali react to arrest of Rwandans
Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda. Maj Gen Frank Mugambage gestures during an interview with Daily Monitor last year. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
In May, two Rwandans identified as Ishimwe Bosose and Peter Sanvura were arrested in a church in Kamwezi in Rukiga District on claims that they were security operatives doing espionage.
The army yesterday said the 40 Rwandans arrested in a joint security operation at a church in Kibuye, Kampala, were “safe” in the custody of the security forces.
The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, did not give reasons for their arrest but said investigations were ongoing.
“I’m unable to provide the full details, including the nationality of the arrested suspects. However, be assured that they are in safe custody of the security forces as investigations continue,” he said.
When asked what triggered the arrest and what the investigations were focusing on, Brig Karemire said: “No specifics at this point.”
The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, said they did not have details of the arrest and whereabouts of the suspects.
“I’m aware of the operation. But we only played a supportive role. For more details call Afande Karemire,” Mr Onyango said.
The arrest comes two weeks after President Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame met in Angola and agreed to resolve the issues that have caused the standoff between Uganda and Rwanda.
Among the issues Rwanda has raised is the alleged arrest of its citizens by Ugandan security forces, a claim Uganda has flatly dismissed. Rwanda claims that more than 100 of its citizens are being incarcerated in the military cells in Uganda.
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In May, two Rwandans identified as Ishimwe Bosose and Peter Sanvura were arrested in a church in Kamwezi in Rukiga District on claims that they were security operatives doing espionage.
They were arrested two days after Rwandan soldiers killed two people on the Ugandan territory, which prompted Uganda to write a diplomatic protest note to Kigali.
President Kagame has also come out to warn Rwandans against coming to Uganda, saying Rwandans are welcome as long as they follow the right procedures to enter Uganda.
Rwanda’s State Minister for East African Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe told Daily Monitor on phone from Kigali last evening that they were following the case through their High Commissioner in Kampala.
But when contacted earlier in the afternoon, Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda, Maj Gen Frank Mugambage, said: ‘I am not available.”
