The government of Uganda has sent a protest note to Rwanda over the weekend deadly shooting of its citizens.
On Saturday at around 8pm while at Tabagwe village in Nyagatare district in Rwanda, two Ugandans were shot dead by Rwandan security forces on allegation that they were smuggling tobacco into Rwanda which is prohibited in the country.
The deceased were identified as Byarushaga Ayub male aged 37 years resident of Nyakabungo cell, Kashekye Parish Kamwezi Sub County in Rukiga District and Tuhirwe John Bosco male aged 30 years of the same address.
Rwanda later came out to claim that the two victims assaulted their security operatives which forced them to shoot the former in self defence.
Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo, in a protest note sent to the Rwanda High Commissioner Frank Mugambagye on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, said the alleged crime cannot justify the high handed and criminal act by the Rwandan security personnel, against unarmed civilians residing along the common border.
“The Government of Uganda protests in the 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. The Ministry demands that a joint investigation in the murders be conducted and the perpetrators held accountable,” Mr Opondo said.
“The Government of Uganda considers the shooting incident a grave matter and that although the latest victim is Rwandan, it constitutes a pattern of reckless and high-handed acts on the part of Rwanda security personnel, against simple, ordinary people that live along the common border. The Government of Uganda is ready to hand Peter Havugimana to the relevant Rwanda Government authorities, if he wishes to return.”
The development comes barely a day after the bodies of the two were repatriated on Tuesday afternoon to Uganda for decent burial.
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