Top officers flee Rwanda
May 03, 2005
TWO senior Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) officers have fled their country and taken refuge in Uganda, security sources have said.
By Emmy Allio
TWO senior Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) officers have fled their country and taken refuge in Uganda, security sources have said.
The sources said another RDF officer also fled Rwanda and passed through Uganda to another destination. Five other Rwandan army officers fled to neighbouring Burundi, the sources said.
The events in Rwanda follow the arrest last weekend of Col. Patrick Karegeya, the RDF spokesman, who is likely to be charged with insubordination.
Ugandan security officials said the identities of the RDF officers in Uganda would not be disclosed for their safety.
“These officers are here and we will immediately connect them to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Disclosing their identities will endanger their family and friends,†a source said.
The Rwandan ambassador, Ignatius Karmali, said he had not yet been informed of their presence. “I do not know about their status and reasons for coming here,†he said.
The RDF chief-of-staff, Charles Kayonga, on Monday told journalists, “Patrick had been arrested for gross indiscipline. We do not tolerate indiscipline of a staff officer of his rank and status.â€
Sources in Kigali said Karegeya, a former Director General of External Security Organisation (ESO), is detained at Mulindi military prison. His phone was on voicemail.
Sources said Karegeya and others who fled the country had been critical of some of President Paul Kagame’s policies.
“The interesting thing here in Kigali is that whoever has divergent views from the President and his inner circle is considered a ‘Ugandan’,†a Kigali source said.
In what seemed to be a purging of ‘Ugandans’, some critics were forced to resign and some redeployed in non-influential areas, the sources said.
Sources said some of the ‘Ugandans’ forced to resign were Gerald Gahima (Prosecutor General), his brother Theogene Rudasingwa (Director of Cabinet in the President’s Office), Sam Kana Nkusi (Minister for Energy). Ben Rugangazi, the MD for Tri-Star, a company owned by RDF, was appointed ambassador to China, while Army Chief Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa was appointed ambassador to India.
Other refugees in Uganda include former Director of Military Intelligence Col. Jack Nziza, who was transferred to the less influential directorship of education and sports in the RDF and Major Dr. Richard Masozera, posted to the Prime Minister’s Office as adviser.
TWO senior Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) officers have fled their country and taken refuge in Uganda, security sources have said.
The sources said another RDF officer also fled Rwanda and passed through Uganda to another destination. Five other Rwandan army officers fled to neighbouring Burundi, the sources said.
The events in Rwanda follow the arrest last weekend of Col. Patrick Karegeya, the RDF spokesman, who is likely to be charged with insubordination.
Ugandan security officials said the identities of the RDF officers in Uganda would not be disclosed for their safety.
“These officers are here and we will immediately connect them to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Disclosing their identities will endanger their family and friends,†a source said.
The Rwandan ambassador, Ignatius Karmali, said he had not yet been informed of their presence. “I do not know about their status and reasons for coming here,†he said.
The RDF chief-of-staff, Charles Kayonga, on Monday told journalists, “Patrick had been arrested for gross indiscipline. We do not tolerate indiscipline of a staff officer of his rank and status.â€
Sources in Kigali said Karegeya, a former Director General of External Security Organisation (ESO), is detained at Mulindi military prison. His phone was on voicemail.
Sources said Karegeya and others who fled the country had been critical of some of President Paul Kagame’s policies.
“The interesting thing here in Kigali is that whoever has divergent views from the President and his inner circle is considered a ‘Ugandan’,†a Kigali source said.
In what seemed to be a purging of ‘Ugandans’, some critics were forced to resign and some redeployed in non-influential areas, the sources said.
Sources said some of the ‘Ugandans’ forced to resign were Gerald Gahima (Prosecutor General), his brother Theogene Rudasingwa (Director of Cabinet in the President’s Office), Sam Kana Nkusi (Minister for Energy). Ben Rugangazi, the MD for Tri-Star, a company owned by RDF, was appointed ambassador to China, while Army Chief Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa was appointed ambassador to India.
Other refugees in Uganda include former Director of Military Intelligence Col. Jack Nziza, who was transferred to the less influential directorship of education and sports in the RDF and Major Dr. Richard Masozera, posted to the Prime Minister’s Office as adviser.