Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Hillary Onek has attacked Rwanda for closing her borders with Uganda yet ‘we helped them in times of war’.
It’s now a month since Rwanda closed its border lines of Kyanika and Katuna blocking traffic from Uganda.
Rwandan authorities accused Ugandan government of harbouring a Rwandan rebel group that plans to overthrow Kagame’s government.
They also accused Ugandan forces of oppressing Rwandan nationals in Uganda through illegally detaining and deporting them.
These allegations were also supported by Rwandan President Paul Kagame while addressing the African CEOs Forum in Rwanda three day ago.
Kagame said that if there are Rwandans who have committed crimes in Uganda, they should be processed through legally-provided channels and in an open way which Uganda has not done.
“Not only have they not been treated through the legal processes, but they also have not been given access to counsel, even our diplomats cannot visit them because they are held in places that are not known. We have engaged with Uganda about that and have gotten nowhere,” said Kagame.
However, on Thursday, Onek told member states of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on the issue of refugees’ work permits at Speke Resort Munyonyo, that Rwandan authorities were ‘fighting over nothing’.
“You heard recently some people are quarreling with us over nothing. We have kept them, looked after them, and we have made them become what they are. Then all of a sudden we are bad people,” he said, adding that there is problem why friendly countries can decide to cause their citizens to suffer and die.
“This unseen quarrel is out of misconception, there is no problem between our countries. And I think if this continues refugee numbers will keep on increasing. We need to avoid what causes people to seek refuge in our region. Such pressures at the border have already triggered people to seek refuge somewhere.”
Meanwhile, IGAD member states also agreed to give refugees work permits also to start seeking jobs as the nationals of the host countries.
Raouf Mazoa, Director Regional Bureau for Africa United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said, “When refugees cross borders to the hosting countries they come with their skills which they can use to benefit the hosting countries.”
Prime Minister Rwahakana Rugunda also said that the suggestions by the IGAD will help refugees to also support their families.
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