Five Ugandan officials arrested for aiding Rwandan refugees flee camps

ISINGIRO - The Ugandan government has arrested five local officials of Isingiro district near Nakivale camp, in connection with aiding Rwandan refugees flee camps. Uganda’s Minister of Relief and Disaster Preparedness, Prof. Tarcis Kabwegere confirmed the development. “We have arrested some and investigations are continuing, and we are following it closely,” Kabwegere. The move has come after returnees accused Ugandan local leaders for aiding refugees with documents to mingle with the community as citizens for fear of repatriation. The refugees paid as much as 200,000 Ugandan shillings for documents describing them as Ugandans to avoid repatriation.According to the returnees, the fear of repatriation is caused by fear of Justice since some were involved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Lyantonde, Mubende and Kiboga districts, and as far as Karagwe in northern Tanzania, have been cited as the areas where most of the fleeing refugees are heading for. However, Minister Kabwegere declined to give a full detailsd of the situation but referred this paper to the Ugandan police for the details. When contacted, Uganda police spokes person, Judith Nabakooba, promised to give details after inquiring with the western police authorities. We could however not get her later as she was reportedly in a meeting. Rwanda’s Minister of Local Government, Protais Musoni, said that government supports the rule of law. “Obviously, as you know our country is based on the rule of law, so we support Uganda’s move,” Musoni said. He also revealed that following the repatriated refugees who came from Kyangware camps, more are requesting to be repatriated. “We are working with our counterparts who are Uganda, UNHCR and others. The exercise is progressing, we are expecting others (returning refugees) next week,” Musoni said. The arrests have come when Rwanda, UNHCR and Uganda are to meet again about the repatriation exercise. Ends