By Kampala Post Reporter
Authorities in Rwanda have today Tuesday handed over bodies of two Ugandans gunned downed by the country’s security forces over the weekend.
Ayub Byarushaga, 37 years a resident of Nyakabungo Cell in Rukiga district and 30 year old Johnbosco Tuhirwe a resident of the same area were shot dead on Saturday at around 8pm by Rwanda police men on patrol at Tabagwe in Nyagatare district.
The duo is alleged to have been smuggling tobacco into Rwanda at the time. On Tuesday a team of Rwandan security officials and the Mayor Nyagatare Claude Mushabe handed over the two bodies to Ugandan authorities and relatives. This was during a function held at Kamwezi border in Rukiga district.
The incident is the latest of the several murders committed by Rwandan security forces deployed at the border, against Ugandans and some of its citizens. It comes amid talks aimed at solving the border standoff between the two East African countries.
Rwanda closed its border with Uganda at Katuna in March this year, suffocating business between the two countries.
Despite the questionable shootings of unarmed civilians, Rwanda has remained unremorseful and instead justified the actions as carried out in self-defense after attack on the country’s security forces by the ‘violent’ victims. “The smugglers became violent and assaulted police officers who reacted in self- defense shooting dead two, while the rest escaped,” said Rwanda Police Spokesperson CP JB Kabera in a statement on Sunday.
The police in Kigezi region has since warned residents along the common border to remain cautious and avoid activities that put their lives at stake.
“I want to caution our people along the borders to stop doing things that put their lives at stake, risking their lives by going through porous exits into neighbouring countries, where Ugandan security forces can’t give them protection,” warned Elly Mate Kigezi regional police spokesperson.
