By TOM MALABA

  • Of recent, Uganda and Rwanda relations hit a new low with Rwanda closing its side of the border. Rwanda accuses Uganda of arresting its citizens and supporting dissidents, a claim authorities in Kampala have consistently denied.

About 40 Rwandan nationals have been arrested in Kibuye, a Kampala suburb in a joint operation between the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and Police, authorities have said. 
The operation was conducted at an unidentified church located on the first floor of Joinus building at Kibuye on Entebbe Road, with a membership of only Rwandan citizens.

The UPDF soldiers first cordoned off the scene where the group was allegedly holding a meeting before ordering them out. Whoever stepped of the church was ordered to board a waiting van. Our reporter could not establish where the group was held.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango has confirmed the arrests and explained that police only played “a supportive role” in the operation.

“We only played a supportive role. For details, I ask that you speak to my senior colleague in the UPDF,” Mr Onyango said.
When contacted for details, the UPDF spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, declined to divulge details of the arrests. 
“This is an ongoing operation, I cannot give details right now because it will jeopardize the operation,” Brig Karemire said.
A source in security told the Daily Monitor that the suspects were a security threat but it did not elaborate on the nature of threat they posed. 
“Most of the people we arrested were Rwandans but they had Ugandan National identification cards which were found to be fake,” the source said. 
When contacted the Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Maj Gen Frank Mugambage, through his official telephone line, the person who answered said; ‘I am not available.”
Of recent, Uganda and Rwanda relations hit a new low with Rwanda closing its side of the border. Rwanda accuses Uganda of arresting its citizens and supporting dissidents, a claim authorities in Kampala have consistently denied.

The Rwandan government in turn urged its nationals not to travel to Uganda for ‘their own personal safety.’

tmalaba@ug.nationmedia.com

Source: https://mobile.monitor.co.ug