Uganda hands over genocide suspect
Rwandan Police officers escort Jean Paul Birindabagabo following his arrival at Kigali International Airport
Ugandan security officials have handed over another Rwandan Genocide suspect, Jean Paul Birindabagabo, alias Pastor Daniel Bagabo, who has been living in Uganda since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
The suspect was handed over to Rwanda security and immigration officials by Chris Ongyera, a Ugandan immigration officer on January 14, after he was flown into the country at about 7.30pm at Kigali International airport in Kanombe.
The suspect arrived with a few belongings wrapped in a black polythene bag. He was immediately handcuffed and handed over to the Rwandan officials after deportation papers were signed between the parties.
Birindabagabo, is said to have been living in the outskirts of Uganda’s capital Kampala and practicing as a local pastor under the disguised names of ‘Pastor Daniel Bagabo’.
He is alleged to have committed genocide crimes in the former Kibungo Prefecture in Save Sector, (now in Kirehe and Ngoma districts of Eastern Province) where he is alleged to have directed widespread massacre of Tutsi during the 1994 Genocide.
Birindabagabo, 53, was born in former Nyamisa sector in former Gisenyi province and at the time of the Genocide, he is said to have been a prominent member of the MRND party and president of the farmer’s cooperative (TwibumbeBahinzi) in former Sake Commune.
Genocide survivors from former Sake Commune, were at the airport to witness his arrival but didn’t get a chance to put an eye on a man they have longed to see hand of justice get on.
CallixsteKabandana, the head of Sake Genocide survivors’ association said, that the people of Sake have been waiting for this moment and most of them would like to see the man whose name has been associated with genocide in their community.
“Most of us have been hearing about him. When you talk of genocide in Kibungo, the name Birindabagabo comes in all testimonies and deaths of many are associated with the suspect. We are sure that justice will be served since he has been arrested†Kabandana said.
