Two policemen held for robbing Rwandan businessman

Katuna, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Two police constables at Katuna border police station in Kabale district are in trouble for allegedly robbing a Rwandan businessman at gunpoint.  The suspects are police constables Gracious Tusiime, 25, and Zechariah  Ekiyankundire, 26.

They are accused of robbing Thomas Habanabakize,38, a Rwandan national and resident of Rwambu village, Gicumbi district, Northern province in Rwanda on March 1, 2024. It is alleged that the suspects intercepted Habanabakize when he legally crossed to Uganda through the Gatuna-Katuna border with 85,000 Rwandan Francs (approximately Shillings 260,000) on accusations of owning fake currencies.

Habanabakize had crossed to Katuna to buy merchanidise for his business in Rwanda. After his arrest, the constables placed their victim at gunpoint and ordered him to surrender all the money he had.

Elly Maate, the police spokesperson for the Kigezi region confirmed the matter, saying that preliminary investigations indicate that after robbing their victim, the constables ordered him to cross back to Rwanda through the porous border or else they teach him a lesson.

Maate says that upon his return to Rwanda, Habanabakize complained to Rwandan security authorities who contacted their Ugandan counterparts leading to the arrest of the suspects.

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