The government of Uganda has received two bodies of Ugandans who were shot dead on Sunday as they tried to make their way into the country.
Ugandan team was led by Prikeria Muhindo Mwiine, the Rukiga Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and the Rwandan side, was led by the Mayor of Nyagatare district David Claudian Mushabe.
The handover took place at Buziba border post, at Kamwezi Sub-County, where officials from both sides signed documents confirming receipt of the bodies.
The two men are identified as Job Ebindishanga and Bosco Tuheirwe were shot dead at around 3am in Tabagwe Sector, Nyagatare district, Eastern Province.
According to a communication from Rwanda National police (RNP), they were intercepted smuggling goods into Rwanda through ungazetted border points. The two men, turned violent when approached, and are averred to be part of a larger group of smugglers that was intercepted by a police patrol in the area on Sunday.
“Today, November 10, 2019, at around 0300 AM, in Tabagwe Sector, Nyagatare district, Police Officers on patrol intercepted group of suspected smugglers who crossed inside Rwandan territory at an ungazetted border point with Uganda,” reads part of the statement
“The smugglers became violent and assaulted police officers who reacted in self-defence shooting dead two while the rest escaped. The deceased were identified as Job Ebindishanga, 32, and Bosco Tuheirwe, 35, both Ugandans,” the statement further reads.
Three more Ugandans identified as Aron Ainebyoona, Christopher Byamukama and Emmanuel Niwamanya were also part of the smuggling racket and reportedly fled back to Uganda following the incident.
Uganda authorities have since declined to comment on this matter. Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, closed country’s borders to Ugandan good and has since accused Uganda of supporting Rwanda’s enemies.
