The Ugandan government on Tuesday called out Rwanda to punish those involved in the killing of two Ugandan traders by the security personnel over allegations of smuggling, reported Reuters.
According to a statement issued by the Rwandan police, the two Ugandans Job Ebyarishaga and Bosco Tuhirwe were shot dead at Tabagwe village in Nyagatare District in Rwanda early on Sunday after the police intercepted them while smuggling tobacco about 200 meters from the Ugandan border.
The Rwandan government said the two Ugandans had entered Rwanda illegally on a smuggling run and assaulted its police officers. The officers had to fire bullets in self-defense after the Ugandan nationals got violent.
But, the Ugandan government has accused Rwanda’s security personnel of reckless behavior.
“The government of Uganda protests in the strongest terms the murder of its nationals by Rwandan security personnel,” the statement said. “The alleged crime (smuggling) cannot justify this high handed and criminal act by Rwandan security personnel, against unarmed civilians residing along the common border.”
It added that the murders are inimical to the ongoing efforts to improve relations between the two countries. The Ugandan government has demanded a joint investigation in the murders and perpetrators held accountable.
Notably, the relations between Uganda and Rwanda turned unfriendly early this year after Rwanda shut its border blocking any movement of goods or people across the borders. Rwanda accused Kampala of backing rebels trying to topple President Paul Kagame. The government even issued a travel advisory to its nationals and warned them not to travel to Uganda and barred imports of Ugandan goods. Uganda denied all the accusations.
In August Kagame and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a deal to try to mend ties, vowing to respect each other’s sovereignty and refrain from actions that destabilize the other’s territory.
