By Fred Kiva
Uganda has issued a protest note to Rwanda over the continued shooting of its citizens by Rwanda’s security forces.
In a protest note delivered to Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda Maj Gen. Frank Mugambage by Ambassador Patrick Mugoya, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Uganda protests in 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,” reads in part a statement by the Uganda Media Centre.
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame in August this year signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at improving relations between the two countries.
The MoU signed in Luanda, Angola’s capital followed the deteriorating relations between the two neighbours exacerbated by Rwanda’s closure of its border with Uganda at Katuna in March.
In the MoU the two countries agreed to hold periodic follow up coordination meetings. So far the two government officials have met in Rwanda (Kigali) in September, while the next meeting scheduled to take place in Kampala, last month (October) did not take place over unknown reasons.
Two Ugandans; Job Ebyarishanga, 37 years and Johnbosco Tuhirwe, 30 years, all hailing from Rukiga district in Uganda were murdered on Saturday evening in Rwanda’s Tibagwe Sector, Nyagatare district.
The two whose bodies were handed over on Tuesday, are accused by Rwanda’s security forces of smuggling tobacco into the country and assaulting the policemen during arrest.
Killed Execution Style:
According to a police report, after receiving the bodies, they were examined by the Kigezi Regional Police Surgeon, “Job Ebyarishanga had been shot in the chest and head, while Johnbosco Tuhirwe was shot in the chest and ribs, both done at short range, meant to kill execution style by a gun most likely a pistol.”
