Human Rights Watch, political exiles luring people to flee Rwanda

Journalist Stanly Gatera names Human Rights Watch researcher Lewis Mudge (Right) as one of his contacts in Kampala

A rights campaign group and Rwandan exiles are on the spot after they lured a journalist to flee Rwanda with promises of good life in the west – in an attempt to undermine the government of President Paul Kagame.

Editor of UMUSINGI newspaper Stanley Gatera surfaced back in Rwanda last week after six months when he fled the country claiming his life was in danger. In local media interviews, Gatera narrates that he was made to believe he would be targeted by government following an incident where he is alleged to have taken a bribe from a bar owner.

Gatera says Rwandan exiled politicians convinced him that the bribe was a plot to pin him due to his critical reporting. In particular, Gatera names Rwandan academic Charles Kambanda with whom they exchanged Facebook messages advising him on how to leave Rwanda, and eventually obtain residence documents in the United States or European country.

Washington-based group Human Rights Watch also provided advice to Gatera, and promised to support his request for residence in the United States. Human Rights Watch researcher Lewis Mudge helped Gatera to leave Rwanda to Kampala, Uganda, where he gave him 2100 Euros cash (Rwf 1.2million) for upkeep.

According to Gatera, Human Rights Watch suggested to him that he travels to South Africa where he would join up with the members of the Rwandan National Congress (RNC), which was ready to provide him with protection. RNC is an opposition outfit of exiled Rwandan politicians led by former army chief Kayumba Nyamwasa.

However, Gatera narrates that contrary to constant pressure from his hosts to leave Kampala immediately, he stayed there and was never trailed by anybody or receive any message which suggested his life was in danger.

Gatera singles out Charles Kambanda, a former lecturer at the Rwanda National University. Kambanda left Rwanda abruptly following a confidential note filed by female students at the university complaining about his conduct. Gatera for his part says Kambanda provided him with a detailed methodology of how he could leave Uganda, on to South Africa via Kenya, then Tanzania and Mozambique.

Kambanda reportedly linked Gatera with a network of gangs who would clandestinely transport him to South Africa in a journey that would last ten days. Kambanda also provided $1000 (Rwf704,000) which Gatera was to use along the way for food and payment to the gang.

According to Kambanda’s instructions detailed via Facebook direct messages, Gatera would be welcomed by members of the Rwanda National Congress. Gatera was also in contact via Facebook with an account named “RNC Pretoria”. News of Rwanda has verified this account.

Facebook message of correspondence between Stanly Gatera and Charles Kambanda as reported by UMUSEKE, a local news website in Rwanda