The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa has said Uganda has no reason to host elements hostile to Kigali or arrest and torture their citizens as alleged.
In the first official statement since last week’s close the border at Katuna to trucks, Kutesa dismissed as untrue allegations by Rwandan officials that Uganda hosts elements fighting Rwanda, and that Uganda arrests and tortures Rwandans. He also said it is unfortunate that movement of goods and people across the common border with Rwanda has been restricted.
Earlier in the day, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Richard Sezibera has said the rise in tension at the border is the climax of two years of fruitless discussions with Uganda over issues that concern Kigali.
“Rwandans have been illegally incarcerated, tortured for reasons we don’t understand. We’ve people who have been incarcerated since 2017 and denied consular access. These are issues that have been discussed for over two years. We haven’t received satisfactory answers from Uganda,” he told the press in Kigali on Tuesday.
He admitted that the relationship with Uganda is not at its best currently but was optimistic it shall be resolved. “There are ongoing discussions with our counterparts on a number of issues including illegal detentions of Rwandans in Uganda and supporting armed groups opposed to Rwanda,” he said.
“We are not interfering with Uganda’s policies but we want things to be done the way they should be done according to international procedures. We have advised our nationals not to travel to Uganda until these issues are addressed for their own security,” he added.
Uganda Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo earlier responded to the Rwanda accusations, saying on twitter that, “Uganda remains welcoming to Rwanda nationals, but specific cases raised on alleged arbitrary arrests or detentions shall be handled through normal diplomatic channels.”
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem also said Uganda willing to resolve any issues that have arisen. “Uganda and Rwanda are two blood brothers in this regard you can’t rule out simple misunderstanding as family do.I beg for calm & patience from both sides. The Diplomatic arm @GovUganda is at work to avert this rising tension,” he said.
At the press briefing in Kigali, Sezibera went on to insist that the Rwanda-Uganda border is not closed. He told the press there are construction works going on at Gatuna/Katuna border and that is the reason traffic was diverted to Kagitumba border.
Last week’s change in procedures of entry, and the diversion means hundreds of Ugandan trucks are stuck at Gatuna/Katuna for the past four days for failing to get clearance to enter Rwanda or inability to turn around and head to Kagitumba.
Uganda Revenue Authority at the weekend asked Rwanda to clear trucks already at Katuna while oncoming traffic gets diverted at Ntungamo to Miramar.
He also told the press that there are no military deployments along the borders. “There’s no problem if Rwanda did anything to protect its territorial security, ” he said, adding that ” but it has not been done. But I want to assure Rwandans that they are safe!”
He concluded by saying Ugandans and other East Africans are free to go to Rwanda. “They will be received well, they have been received well and we will continue to do so.”
