Despite recent progress in implementing Heads of State decisions, there are still activities of terrorist groups operating in Uganda whose primary mission is to destabilize Rwanda, stressed Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Vincent Biruta.
Biruta said this as senior officials from Rwanda and Ugandan began a video conference on Thursday June 4 as both countries continue to work to normalize relations between the two countries.
This is the fourth Session of the Ad Hoc Commission.
Biruta said: “For instance, outfits of that Self-Worth Initiative still operate RNC cells in Uganda. This goes against the Government of Uganda’s previous commitment to disbanding the activities of this criminal organization.”
“There is a trend of on-going mobilization activities in different parts of Uganda to support RNC and other different negative forces that continue to receive the support from Uganda’s Security Organs.”
The meeting, chaired by Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa, was also attended by Angola ‘s Minister of External Relations, Tete Antonio, and DR Congo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Gilbert Kankonde Malamba, and the Minister of Interior, Security, and Customary Affairs.
Angola and the DR Congo are facilitators in the ongoing process of normalizing Rwanda-Uganda relations.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult to meet physically, Kutesa convened the meeting via videoconference.
Biruta noted that the harassment and persecution of Rwandan nationals in Uganda continues to increase and the Ugandan Government seems to continue to deny its position “in these regrettable acts.”
For example, on May 18, Biruta said two Rwandan women were handed over to Uganda at the border after being severely beaten while on their way back by Ugandan security operatives.
“Additionally, Rwandans reported being detained at security detention centers continue to be denied consular visits and are not produced before any courts of law to stand trial.”
He said the ongoing aggressive media propaganda by various media outlets in Uganda against the government of Rwanda, including some reportedly state-owned media outlets, is still going on.
Earlier this year, all parties committed to protecting and upholding the human rights of members of either country at the third meeting of the Ad Hoc committee. At the time, Kigali asked for investigations into the deaths of certain Rwandan nationals.
Biruta said: “To this day, we are yet to receive convincing responses for some of those cases. In addition, both parties committed to further verify the number of detained nationals of either party in each other’s country and to report through a Note Verbal in three weeks’ time.
“Rwanda fully played its part and communicated through diplomatic channels a list of Ugandans legally detained in Rwanda. Unfortunately, until now, we are yet to receive the same communication on Rwandans legally or illegally detained in Uganda.”
Rwanda also formally wrote to Uganda notifying the latter of different issues concerning the activities carried out on Ugandan territory by Rwandan rebel groups.
Up to this day, Biruta said, there has been no tangible response or clarification from the Ugandan side on efforts to verify Rwanda’s allegations.
Concluding his opening remarks, Biruta noted that it is “our desire therefore,” this Ad Hoc Commission’s fourth meeting will be geared towards lasting solutions, addressing the “issues that we have repeatedly raised”
Kutesa said his government de-registered the Self-Worth Initiative in March.
He listed a number of allegations against Rwanda; noting names of Ugandans being held incommunicado in Rwanda, and accusing Rwandan security agencies, among others, of killing Ugandans along the common frontier.
Kutesa said: “We are concerned and called for the investigations on the murder of our people but this has not happened.”
He also said Kigali up to now has maintained an illegal trade embargo, something that Kampala wants to end.
On another note, Kutesa told the meeting that up to 130 Rwandans detained in Uganda were released last month and are now being processed for return to their homes.
He said on Monday and Tuesday that these Rwandans should able to be handed over to Rwanda at the Cyanika and Mirama hills border posts.
Kutesa said, however, that 310 other Rwandans who he said committed capital offenses will remain in custody and will share their details with Rwanda.
