Three Ugandan businessmen have been arrested and detained in Rwanda. The three include Bosco Nkwasiibwe, a resident of Kamwezi sub-county in Rukiga district, Dauliano Orikurungi from Kabale district and Siliaco Orishaba from Rubanda district.Peninah Karungi, a wife to Nkwasiibwe told our reporter on Sunday that the victims were arrested by Rwandan security operatives on Thursday morning. She adds that their captors also confiscated an unspecified amount of Rwandan Francs from the victims.
Rukiga district vice chairperson Jackson Muganiizi says that the victims were arrested from Kamwezi while crossing back into Uganda from Nyagatare district in Rwanda, where they had gone to visit their relatives. He adds that the three are now detained at Nyagatare district headquarters.
Their arrest comes at a time Uganda and Rwanda are negotiating the possible re-opening of the border at Gatuna, which has been closed for now a year.
But on Saturday, Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Rwandan minister of state for Foreign Affairs in charge of the East African Community Affairs said in a tweet that the border will only open if Uganda takes measures against armed groups in a one-month period.After the meeting, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni refuted links with General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, the leader of Rwanda National Congress (RNC) whom Rwanda accuses of targeting to destabilize the country’s peace.
Since the border closure, several Ugandans and Rwandans have been arrested and shot by Rwandan security for their alleged involvement in smuggling.
