Uganda is maintaining its open door policy for people of all nationalities, including Rwandans wishing to visit the country, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa has Tuesday said.
His position follows a strong travel advisory issued by Rwanda to all its citizens willing to travel to Uganda.
Kutesa’s counterpart in Rwanda Richard Sezibera last Friday cautioned Rwandans in Uganda to leave the country because they had been subjected to extreme persecution and torture, an allegation which Uganda denies to todate.
Sezibera who has proved to be vocal although ‘reckless’ insists several Rwandans have been incarcerated while others deported without any valid reason.
A case in point is the recent repatriation of Anne Tabura a former Sales and Distribution Manager at MTN Uganda.
However, Kutesa denied Sezibera’s claims but reechoes that Uganda expects all visitors to be law abiding including Rwandans.
Uganda Police defended Tabura’s deportation on grounds that she had breached ‘national security.’
Today marks the fifth day as a number of cargo trucks remain clogged at Uganda- Rwanda border, Katuna after President Paul Kagame’s government closed the border.
Kutesa Writes:
There have been recent press reports on the relations between Uganda and Rwanda, attributed to some senior officials in the Government of Rwanda.
1. Alleged Hosting of Elements Fighting Rwanda It is false that Uganda hosts any elements fighting Rwanda. Rwanda knows this very well as it has been a matter of confidential communication at the highest level of the two countries. Uganda does not and cannot allow anyone to operate from its territory that threatens a neighbor as alleged. This is a principled position. We are fully aware that our own development and transformation cannot take place without peace and security in the region. It is for this reason that Uganda has continued to champion closer collaboration and coordination within regional frameworks like EAC, ICGLR, IGAD and even at the Continental level.
2. Alleged arrest, torture and harassment of Rwandans It is not true that Uganda arrests, tortures and harasses Rwandans. It is well known that Uganda welcomes and maintains an open door policy for people of all nationalities, including Rwandans wishing to visit the country. Rwandans are welcome to visit Uganda. It is not by mistake that Uganda continues to be the largest refugee host country in the continent. However, Uganda expects that all visitors to the country including Rwandans to remain law abiding because those who act contrary to the law, are dealt with in accordance with the law. Therefore anyone including Rwandans visiting Uganda have nothing to fear, if they are law abiding.
