Rwandan authorities on Sunday (August 29) handed over the body of a Ugandan man, who was shot dead after reportedly crossing into Rwanda illegally.
Justus Kabagambe Erias Kadogo, a resident of Rutare village in Kabale district, was 25.
In a statement, Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson Elly Maate said the Ugandan was shot after reportedly trying to resist arrest on the Rwandan side.
This happened on the night of August 18 at Kitovu cell, Kivuye sub-county in Burera district – less than two kilometres from the Katuna border.
Kabagambe had reportedly smuggled waragi, a local gin, into Rwanda, according to Rwandan authorities.
His body was handed over to the Ugandan authorities by a team lead by the District Police Commander (DPC) of Burera district, Aphrodis Nkundineza, and mayor Marie Chantal Uwanyirigira.
Present to receive the Ugandan’s remains was a team that included Kabale DPC Muhammad Rashid Byansi, the District Internal Security Officer and local government leaders.
The handover happened at 6pm Sunday at the Katuna border.
Nkundineza told reporters that Kabagambe ‘was arrested by our security officials but he became aggressive, and he was shot dead’.
Meanwhile, Kigezi Police spokesperson Maate said the Police surgeon of Kigezi conducted a postmortem on Kabagambe’s body following the handover.
He also warned Ugandans against crossing borders illegally.
‘Our people, especially on the borderline, should always avoid illegally crossing to neighbouring countries, where we cannot monitor them and provide security to them,’ he said.
For now, Kabale Police are investigating the matter.
