KATUNA – Rwandan armed forces on Thursday shot down A Rwandan they suspected of being a rebel who was trying to cross into Uganda.
The man who faced the wrath of Rwandan forces was known as Innocent Ndahimana, the bullets hit his arm. H was shot in ungazetted border point in Rushaki village, Rubaya Sub County in Kabale district.
While speaking to press on Thursday at the Katuna border, the doctors attending to Innocent said the man lost a lot of blood and his arm may never work again properly. He was admitted to Katuna Community Medical Clinic where he is getting trearment.
“The security operatives stopped me from crossing into Uganda with my goods but I defied because in Uganda a kilogram of beans is bought at UGX2,350= while in Rwanda its only UGX2,000=. They shot me on the right arm and I fell down on the Ugandan side before they impounded the beans and my colleagues carried me to Katuna Community Medical Clinic where I am being treated from,” he said.
It was revealed the man suspected of being a rebel, indeed he was just an innocent business man trying to smuggle 500Kgs of bean to get some earnings off his products
Innocent is a family man with five children, a resident of Nyakabungo village, Chumba Sub County in Gicumbi district said he doesn’t know how he will return home because he will be punished severely.
The in charge of Katuna Community Medical Clinic, Mr Alex Niwahereza, said that the patient is out of danger and will soon be discharged though the possibility of his arm working again is very low.
Mr. Justus Karambuzi, the LC1 chairman for Burambira Village at Katuna town council where the victim is being admitted said that he immediately reported the matter to the security officials at Katuna border post to avoid being accused of hosting an injured foreigner in his village.
The Kigezi Regional Police commander ACP Richard Ecega confirmed the incident saying that he visited the scene where the victim was shot from and the patient in the clinic Thursday evening and was out of danger.
“This man was shot after he had stepped about 2-meters on the Ugandan side. He was carried to a clinic in Katuna town council where he is being treated and I hope once he heals, he will go back to his country,” Regional police commander ACP Richard Ecega said.
In February, Rwandan authorities stopped their nationals from entering Uganda and denied cargo trucks from entering Uganda on claims that they were upgrading their one-stop border post at Gatuna though the statement later changed that Uganda was hosting Rwandan enemies.
The officer in charge of customs at Katuna border post, Mr. Emmanuel Bamanya said that the traffic of small cars and buses is normal though the entry of Cargo Trucks into Rwanda is not allowed by the Rwandan authorities.
