The Government of Rwanda has welcomed the release of 13 nationals and deportation of two terrorist suspects by Uganda, it said in a statement released Wednesday.
Kigali has confirmed that Kabayija Seleman and Nzabonimpa Fidel were part of the deadly attack by RUD-Urunana militia on Kinigi, Musanze District on the night of October 3-4, 2019.
The duo – along with two others, Muganeza Eric and ‘Captain’ Nshimiye a.k.a Gavana, who led the attack on Kinigi – withdrew to Uganda after Rwanda’s security forces neutralised the assailants, killing 19 of them and capturing five others.
The attackers belonged to RUD-Urunana, a breakaway faction of FDLR terrorist organisation founded by extremists who fled Rwanda in 1994 after executing the Genocide against the Tutsi. At least a million people lost their lives during the Genocide.
Rwanda has also demanded the arrest and deportation of both Nshimiye and Mugiraneza so they can stand trial for their actions. At least 14 civilians lost their lives in the Kinigi attack.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation recalls in the statement that "a senior official of the Government of Uganda” had a direct hand in the attack on Kinigi.
Rwanda has previously said it had material evidence proving that Uganda’s state minister for regional cooperation Philemon Mateke was in contact with the assailants around the time of the attack. It cited call history of one of the phones recovered from the crime scene.
Uganda has been linked to several negative armed groups seeking to destabilise Rwanda (including RNC, RUD-Urunana, FDLR and FLN) – one of the factors behind Rwanda’s decision to issue a travel advisory to Uganda in March last year.
Released Ugandans
The Government of Rwanda noted in the statement that it has already terminated the prosecution of 17 Ugandan citizens and released three who have completed their sentences.
These developments are part of a broader effort to normalise ties between Rwanda and Uganda under a deal signed in August 2019 in Luanda under the facilitation of Angola and DR Congo.
Uganda’s handover of the Rwandan nationals on Tuesday was in line with commitments made when the Ad Hoc Commission between the two countries on the implementation of the Luanda Memorandum of Understanding held its third meeting, in Kigali, last Friday.
It also came ahead of Friday’s talks between Presidents Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda due to be held at the Gatuna border crossing.
The Government of Rwanda has welcomed the release of 13 nationals and deportation of two terrorist suspects by Uganda.
The fourth Quadripartite Heads of State Summit will also be attended by Angolan President João Lourenço and his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi. Three such high-level summits have been held since the signing of the Luanda MoU in August, the latest of which took place earlier this month. This week’s summit will be the first under the Luanda framework to be held outside of Angola.
Pending ‘urgent issues’
But Rwanda said there are pending "urgent issues” that Kampala needs to do ahead of Friday’s summit.
"The Government of Rwanda reiterates that there are urgent issues that were agreed with Uganda during the last Ad Hoc Commission meeting held in Kigali, and officially transmitted on 15 February 2020 through Note Verbale No. 0692, that were to be responded to by 20 February 2020,” the statement reads in part.
Pending commitments include "verification of operations and fundraising activities of the following individuals; Prossy Bonabaana, Sula Nuwamanya, Dr Rukundo Rugali, Emerithe Gahongayire and Emmanuel Mutarambirwa, all part of the RNC leadership through an NGO called the Self-Worth Initiative.”
The meeting also agreed on the "verification of Charlotte Mukankusi’s travel history to Uganda, especially during the month of January 2020 and the withdrawal of her Ugandan passport number A000199979.”
During last week’s talks, Uganda also committed to verify the "presence of RUD-Urunana terrorist suspects who were involved in the October 2019 Kinigi attacks. Of the three issues communicated, only this one has been partially fulfilled as only two have been handed over to Rwanda,” the statement reads in parts.
"The Government of Rwanda hopes that these actions by the Government of Uganda will contribute to eliminating all forms of support by Uganda to anti-Rwanda destabilisation elements and terrorist groups and hold accountable officials of all groups operating from Uganda and their (supporters among) Ugandan officials,” Kigali says in the statement.
"The Government of Rwanda remains fully committed to meet its obligations in the implementation of the Luanda MoU,” it adds.