It is estimated that over 30,000 Rwandans are living in Uganda. Kigali
officials claim some of their citizens have been arrested and deported
without due process. FILE PHOTO | NMG
They may be neighbours with strong ethnic and cultural links,
but ask any Kampala or Kigali diplomat about the state of their
relations and you are unlikely to get a straight answer.
Relations between the two countries have been running hot and cold for the past two decades.
They
are currently going through one of the longest stretches of frosty
relations and neither side has been willing to admit the seriousness of
their disagreement, at least not publicly.
The problem is illustrated in a heap of diplomatic notes — which The EastAfrican has seen — many going without corresponding answers.
Kigali
complains that Kampala security agencies, particularly the Chieftaincy
of Military Intelligence and the Internal Security Organisation, are
conducting a witch-hunt targeting Rwandans living in Uganda.
The
documents show various lists of Rwandans they claim authorities in
Kampala have detained without allowing them access to relatives or
consular officers for help. Kigali also claims that a number of people
have been deported to Rwanda without following proper channels.
Court Martial
This accusation
is at the heart of the souring relations between the two neighbours as
Kampala is currently trying a number of top police officers including
former Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura on charges of aiding or
abetting abduction and repatriation of Rwandan refugees in Uganda.
Gen
Kayihura was released on bond by the General Court Martial on August
28. Other senior officers remain on trial before the Court Martial.
The most contentious period based on the documents seen by The EastAfrican was between August 2017 and August this year.
Court
records of those being tried for kidnap and illegal detention show a
more extended period dating back almost five years to 2013.
The
index case over this one-year period concerns Rene Rutagungira, who was
allegedly kidnapped on August 5, 2017 from Bahama’s Bar in Kampala as
recorded in a note verbale dated August 24, 2017. Mr Rutagungira has
since appeared in court charged alongside top Ugandan police officers
for his alleged role in kidnapping and illegally repatriating Rwandan
refugees.
Kigali has also complained of “enemy
recruitment in Uganda by the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) with the aim
of destabilising the country.”
Rebel outfit
Kigali
alleges the RNC is a rebel outfit linked to Kayumba Nyamwasa, a former
top Rwanda Patriotic Front official currently exiled in South Africa
after he disagreed with his former comrades in Kigali.
Security
sources in Kampala claim Kigali has been establishing spy networks
mainly through opening of entertainment places like bars and in the
transport sector, mainly boda boda taxis, and many of those arrested are
employed in or operate such businesses.
The heads of
both the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and Internal Security
Organisation were unavailable for comment and did not return numerous
phone calls.
Minister of State for International
Relations Okello Oryem and his senior minister Sam Kutesa were not
forthcoming with responses to the allegations.
Rwanda’s
High Commissioner to Kampala Maj Frank Mugambage, confirmed Kigali’s
accusations of a witch-hunt against its citizens, but remained
diplomatic about the state of relations between the two countries.
“I
get asked that question many times by the media and others. I believe
it is because of certain issues of concern, especially what we see as a
kind of witch-hunt against Rwandans. It is believed to be carried out by
agents of government, particularly the Chieftaincy of Military
Intelligence and the Internal Security Organisation. These cases are of
concern because these are Rwandans,” said Maj Mugambage.
He admitted to writing to his host ministry several times without receiving any response.
“We
have raised these concerns because some of our citizens have been
arrested, tortured and others have been sent back to Rwanda leaving
their properties behind. We have documented cases but we are yet to
receive a sufficient explanation,” said Maj Mugambage.
Uganda
hosts a significant number of Rwandans, with embassy officials
estimating that there could be more than 30,000 Rwandans living in
Uganda.
Head of communications at the Rwanda High
Commission Kevin Beeza said between 7,000 and 10,000 Rwandans living in
Uganda are expected to participate in parliamentary elections starting
September 2 at the High Commission in Kampala.
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