Over 2000 Gacaca fugitives are hiding in Uganda

IGPs Emmanuel Gasana and Kale Kayihura at the signing of the cooperation agreement

(Courtesy photo)

Police statistics show that there are over 2, 000 genocide fugitives who fled to the neighbouring Uganda in evasion of the gacaca courts.

The statistics were revealed on Thursday April 26 during a press briefing that followed a three-day cooperation meeting between the police forces of the two countries.

At the conference, Inspector General of Police Emmanuel Gasana underscored the need to deepen cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda police forces in order to bring justice to genocide fugitives who may be hiding in Uganda.

In the last few years, mass border crossings were reported between Uganda and Rwanda especially by genocide fugitives.

After the meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed between the two forces. The Ugandan side was represented by Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, IGP of Uganda.

The agreement consists of partnering in fighting cross border crimes, gender based violence and human trafficking.

It was also agreed that the genocide fugitives issue would be emphasized in the agreement to make sure that they are brought to book.

“This is one of the resolutions we have agreed upon. We shall exchange information and have joint operations of hunting down criminals,” said Gasana

The development comes at a time when Rwanda is commemorating a hundred days in which over a million Tutsi were killed in 1994 Genocide.

At the closure of the mourning week on April 13, the minister of culture called upon all countries harbouring genocide fugitives to arrest them and charge them or send them to Rwanda to face the law.

During the meeting, the two police bosses also discussed issues related to traffic problems which have led to countless road accidents especially on the Ugandan side.