According to Kukudakwe, he was later told by security that Tukamushaba is wanted for aiding Rwandan national to acquire Ugandan national identity cards.
Denis Tukamushaba alias Chicharito, the Proprietor of
Eagle Tours and Travel in Kabale district has been arrested for allegedly helping Rwandan
nationals to acquire Ugandan national identity cards.
Tukamushaba, a resident of Bufuka village in Kitumba Sub County, Kabale district was detained after responding to summons by the Police. According to his lawyer Bruno
Kukundankwe Beitwenda, Tukamushaba had been summoned to Kabale Central Police Station
to be interviewed on something.
He however, says that upon arrival at the police station, the
Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Department, Joel Ntabu and
Kigezi Regional Police Commander, Dan Byaruhanga handcuffed his client
and handed him over to operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military
Intelligence (CMI) who whisked him off to unknown destination.
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Rukiga
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According to Kukudakwe, he was later
told by security that Tukamushaba is wanted for aiding Rwandan national
to acquire Ugandan national identity cards. Tukamushaba has allegedly
been working as an agent between Rwandan nationals and some employees of
the National Identification and Registration Authority-NIRA in Kabale to secure
the national identity cards.
He however, says that he was told luck ran out
for Tukamushaba when a female Rwandan national he helped secure a National
Identity card identified as Josian was arrested in Kisoro district last week while processing a passport to exit Uganda
and was found with both the Ugandan and Rwandan national identity cards.
He explains that upon interrogation, Josian
revealed that she was helped by Tukamushaba to obtain a Ugandan National identity card, a claim Kukudakwe
flatly disputes. Josian, who is believed to be a wife to a Security Officer in
Rwanda, spent some time working as a waitress at Mist bar and lounge in
Kabale before she relocated to Bunagana in Kisoro district where she was
arrested
Kukundakwe told URN that he liaising with security officials
to secure the release of his client on bond or ensure that he is produced in
court.
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Rukiga
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Tukamushaba’s elder brother, Stephen Mbabazi,
says his arrest has triggered panic among family members.
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Rukiga
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Our reporter has since established that CMI is also investigating
NIRA officials in Kabale. The Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, Elly Maate declined to comment on the matter
when approached by our reporter, saying it is beyond him. The Kigezi Regional Police Commander, Dan
Byaruhanga said Tukamushaba is locked up at Kisoro police station for
questioning.
He declined to divulge details into the matter, saying security
will issue a detailed statement later. There is tension between Uganda and Rwanda following the closure
of Gatuna border on February 2019. Rwandan
authorities accuse Ugandan authorities of abducting Rwandan citizens and
locking them up in ungazetted areas.
They also accuse Uganda of hosting and facilitating dissidents
especially from the Rwanda National Congress and the Democratic Forces
for the Liberation of Rwanda who have declared war on the Kigali government.
Since the border closure, several Ugandans and Rwandan nationals have
been arrested and shot by Rwandan security for smuggling.
The Rwandan President, Paul Kagame and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni have held several meetings under the mediation
of the Angolan president, João Lourenço and his DRC counterpart, Felix
Tshisekedi to end the impasse. The talks are still ongoing.
