The opposition Rwanda National Congress party has dismissed as untrue media reports that they have commenced rebellion after a Ugandan court allegedly released some of the intercepted individuals.
Reacting the reports, RNC says the allegations are baseless and aimed at tarnishing their organization in bad faith.
“The Rwanda National Congress (RNC) dismisses as false allegations a media commentary published in the standard tabloid today (Friday) under the title ‘Uganda’s release of RNC rebels sends strong message to Rwanda. This report lacks all tenets of truth, accuracy, balance and fair and should be treated with the contempt it deserves.” Reads the press statement Eagle Online has seen and signed by Jean Paul Turayishimye, Spokesperson RNC.
The statement furthers says “The author alleges that on Monday June 25, the Magistrates Court in Mbarara released 39 RNC recruits who are part of the group of 46 young men who were intercepted trying to cross at Kikagati, along Uganda-Tanzania border. This is completely untrue and a blatant propaganda campaign to paint RNC in bad light.”
Turayishimye says RNC is a political organization not a rebel movement. He says that it is public knowledge that the people arrested were going for an evangelical pilgrimage not military training.
“RNC is well aware that the government of Rwanda is doing everything possible to malign and frame us” We can comfortably say that the tabloid involved has been relentless in propagating the Rwandan government narrative against RNC but we want to make it clear, RNC is a political organization that won’t be intimidated by this libel”
Turayishimye further warned that the people were released by court and not the Ugandan government as it is maliciously and falsely reported.
“Rwanda should draw a distinction that in other neighbouring countries, unlike Rwanda, the judiciary is independent and the presumption of innocence is cardinal unless proved guilty. The executive in those countries does not depend on the whims of police and other flimsy politically motivated harassment”
RNC is political party that was formed by many former comrades of the Kigali regime and key among them is Kayumba Nyamwasa who has survived several assassination attempts.