UN cautions Uganda on extraditing Rwandan refugees

The UN refugee agency has urged government to ensure safety of Rwandan asylum seekers on Ugandan soil and not to breach again the principles international law which protects refugees from being returned to places where their lives or could be endangered.

UNHCR spokesperson for the Great Lakes region, Kitty McKinsey, said they are deeply concerned about recent reports that Rwandan authorities have requested the extradition of seven Rwandan refugees from Uganda.

“UNHCR urges Uganda to take such necessary measures to ensure the protection of refugees and asylum seekers on its territory,” Ms McKinsey noted.

The caution comes on heels of a request made by the commissioner general of Rwandan Police, Gen. Emmanuel Gasana, at the just concluded Regional Police Workshop, seeking permission to repatriate at least seven asylum seekers.

Gen. Gasana, asked President Museveni whether it is possibler to extradite people whom he said run away from prosecution and seek refuge in other countries on claim that they are political victims.

“Criminals after committing crimes from one country run go to another and call themselves asylum seekers; where UNHCR and NGOs come to defend them,” he said.

However, Ms McKinsey recapping last year’ case of Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s ex-bodyguard, Lt Joel Mutabazi, in a statement advised government to “respect the principles of international refugee protection.”

Lt Mutabazi escaped to Uganda in October 2011 after 17-month incarceration at Kami military facility, outside Kigali, where he claimed he was tortured over connections Rwandan dissidents. Rwandan ambassador to Uganda, Maj. Gen Frank Mugambage also said he was part of a wider group behind the recent grenade attacks in Kigali to destabilise the country.

Daily Monitor on January 15 reported that Interpol Rwanda had written to Uganda police to extradite seven Rwandan refugees.

But neither UNCHR nor Rwanda has provided identities of the refugees in question.