Officials from Rwanda have on Monday refused to cross into Uganda to pick the body of a businessman who was killed by Rwanda security in Ugandan territory on Friday.
John Batista Kyerengye, a businessman was shot dead around 8pm at Hamisavu, trading center, Kiruhura village, Kasekye Parish, Kamwezi Sub County, in Rukiga District.
He was trying to cross into Rwanda, on a motorcycle, loaded with merchandise, but turned back upon noticing security presence across the border.
Kyerengye was however, chased and intercepted by two armed Rwandan soldiers, a distance of about 80 meters, into Ugandan territory, at Hamisavu trading center.
The victim resisted attempts to arrest him, and was shot in the head, dying instantly. The armed soldiers, in addition, shot dead a Ugandan identified as Alex Nyesiga, who was trying to intervene.
During a handover ceremony of Kyerengye’s body, the Rwandan officials led by Nyagatare Mayor David Claudian Mushabe and Nyagatare District Regional Police Commander Emmanuel Hatari refused to cross to Uganda but instead sent a funeral service team that picked the body and transported it to Rwanda.
The officials even refused to attend a meeting with the ambassadors affiliated to Uganda, who had gone to witness the handover event. The ambassadors are from France, UK, USA, Russia, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan.
However, officials from both countries had a quick interaction inside ‘No Man’s Land’ where Mayor Mushabe asked Uganda to release the hundreds of Rwandans it has in its custody illegally.
“I pray that Uganda uses this similar method to handover Rwandans in its custody. You should bring alive Rwandans also not only the dead,” he said.The Rukiga Woman Member of Parliament Caroline Kamusiime Muhwezi who led the Uganda delegation called for peace between the two neigbouring countries.
Kyerengye’s postmortem report was later handed over to the Rwandan officials.
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