The Minister of State in charge of the East African Community, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has come out calling for an end to the harassment of Rwandans beyond the country’s borders.

In the recent past, several Rwandans have been illegally detained and held incommunicado in Uganda, while some were even killed in Burundi.

Since 2017, close to 10 Rwandan business operators have allegedly been kidnapped by operatives attached to Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence before they were dropped at the border after enduring torture for several days and handed to Rwandan authorities.

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None of them appeared before a court of law.

The latest victim is a one Moses Ishimwe Rutare, 33, a Rwandan national who lives and works in Kampala, Uganda, who was picked by security operatives from an upscale suburb of Bugolobi in Kampala.

According to witness and family accounts, Rutare was at a church function and was reportedly picked up by CMI operatives last year on December 22.

Nearly three weeks down the road, his whereabouts remain unknown.

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According to Nduhungirehe, this is against the established regional position on free movement of people.

Last October, 25 Rwandan nationals were reported to have been sentenced to one-year imprisonment by Kisoro Grade One Magistrate, in south western Uganda, over "illegal entry”.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw