Tension is mounting in Katuna Town Council, Kabale District after the reported kidnap of a prominent businessman by unidentified gunmen while in Rwanda. The victim has been identified as, Justus Tweyogyere alias Mwana Muto, a prominent Money Changer at Katuna Border post.
William Asiimwe, the Chairperson of Katuna Money Changers Association says that Tweyongyere was kidnapped on Monday at around 2 pm while at the Rwandan side of the border.
Nelson Nshangabasheija, the Mayor of Katuna Town Council says that Tweyogyere was kidnapped soon after depositing 40,000,000 Rwandan Franc (170 million Shillings) in Bank of Kigali, Gatuna Branch in Northern Province, Gicumbi District.
Nshangabasheija says that he received a phone call from Tweyongere while screaming for help but the phone was switched off within a few minutes.
He adds that Zadoki Kagyeera, the Officer-in-Charge of Katuna Police Station and officials from the Office of Chief of Military Intelligence at Katuna border tried to cross to Rwanda to find out but were denied entry by Rwandan security officials at Gatuna border post.
Kabale District Police Commander Dickens Bindeeba says they are trying to liaise with officials from Rwanda National Police so that the matter is followed up.
This is not the first Ugandan businessman to be kidnapped in Rwanda. In January 2013, Dickson Tinyinondi alias Musalamu , a money changer at Katuna border was kidnapped and killed in Omurukomo, 20-kilometers from the border town of Katuna. He was also robbed of 200 million Shillings.
In February 2012, Elvis Akandinda, another businessman from Kabale was robbed of 100 million Shillings and killed while in Rwanda.
The events come against the backdrop of claims that the two countries are undergoing a strained relationship.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismisses the reports, saying that “bilateral ties between Uganda and Rwanda remain solid and Rwanda remains a strategic partner to Uganda in both our visions for integration and for peace and security in the region.”
