They were shot dead on Sunday morning at around 5:00 am at Nyagatare District, Rwanda about 200 metres from the Ugandan border.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased together with three others identified as Aron Ainebyoona, Christopher Byamukama and Emmanuel Niwamanya were smuggling tobacco using bicycles from Kamwezi to Rwanda.
They had crossed into Rwanda through a porous border of Mproro commonly known as Busia.
Byamukama, one of the survivors says that they were first intercepted by Local Defense operatives and quizzed why they had crossed inside Rwanda. Byamukama says that as they tried to plead for forgiveness, the operatives alerted security officials from Nyagatare.
Byamukama says that security operatives from Nyagatare started shooting at them killing Tuhirirwe and Byarishanga on spot.
Byamukama says that the Byarishanga was shot twice while Turirirwe was shot once in the chest.
Byamukama says that they abandoned their bicycles and fled back to Uganda.
Jackson Muganiizi, Rukiga LCV Vice Chairman, who is also the district councillor representing Kamwezi sub county says that after shooting, Rwandan security operatives wrapped the bodies in sacks and carried them to Nyagatare.
Elly Maate, police spokesperson for Kigezi region says that investigations into the matter are on-going.
Rwanda closed its borders with Uganda in February 2019 to purportedly expedite the construction of the single customs at Gatuna border. Rwanda advised truck drivers destined to Kigali to use Kagitumba border via Mirama Hills.
President, Paul Kagame later accused Ugandan authorities of abducting its citizens and locking them up in ungazetted areas. Rwanda also accused Uganda of hosting and facilitating dissidents especially Rwanda National Congress-RNC and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda FDLR, which have declared war on the Kigali government. Rwanda advised its citizens against travelling to Uganda, saying it can’t guarantee their safety.
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