Three Ugandans intercepted smuggling goods into Rwanda for lack of domestic markets

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Times Reporter

The three Ugandans intercepted in Rwanda after they illegally entered the country their merchandise. They say they are short of market back home. Courtesy

Three Ugandans; Nareeba Naboth, 21, from Bufunda Village, Ngoma Sub Country, Tumwesigye John, 30, Rushenyi Village, Ruhama Sub-Country and Akankwasa Dan, 28, of Bibungo Village, Bushenyi Sub-county, all in Ntungamo District, are currently in the hands of Rwandan National Police.

The trio was arrested on Saturday morning in Kanyinya Village, Kijojo Cell, Musheri Sector in Nyagatare District by local patrol as they smuggled sacks full of onions through porous borders heading to Matimba market.

Together with their commodities, the three are being held at Musheri police station as investigations continue.

Asked as to why they violate immigration laws, the Ugandan nationals, in unison, said that they can’t find market for their goods and that is why they decided to use illegal routes in order to access the Rwandan market.

While Ugandans violate immigration, on the other hand, Rwandans continue to suffer in Ugandan prisons on fabricated charges.

According to a reliable source, Bosco Niyitegeka, 27, a resident of Muyaga Village, Gikombe Cell, Mataba Sector in Gakenke District, was on Saturday deported by Ugandan police after being imprisoned for four months at Kisoro Prison on allegations of illegal stay.

Reliable information indicates that there are 30 other Rwandans in Kisoro Prison and many others who have been transferred to other prisons like Kiburara Prison in Ibanda, Kabale Prison in Kabale District, among others.

Rwandan national Bosco Niyitegeka who was deported from Uganda after spending over four months languishing in different detention facilities in Uganda. Courtesy

Currently, there are dozens of Rwandans that are being held by Ugandan security operatives, mainly the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and majority of them are being kept in ungazetted areas while others are in different military barracks.

The government of Rwanda at the beginning of this month warned Rwandans against travelling to Uganda, saying that it could not guarantee their safety once they have crossed into Uganda.

On top of being held in illegal facilities, detained Rwandans have been denied basic rights for anyone in custody like legal counsel or having access to consular services by the Rwanda High Commission in Kampala.