A Ugandan businessman was on Monday shot dead by Rwanda security forces in Rwerere parish, Burera district, about 5km from the Uganda-Rwanda border.

Warren Musekura, a resident of Kagogo village Bigagga parish Butanda sub county Kabale district, was reportedly killed while smuggling match boxes into Rwanda.

The brother, Sidini Muhereza, confirmed the news, saying that fellow traders close to the border had informed him about the incident.

However, he demanded that the deceased’s body is returned to Uganda for burial.

“We appeal to the Rwandan government officials to handover the body of our deceased relative for a decent burial. The deceased has a wife and 5 children,” Muhereza said on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

The Kabale District chairman, Mr Patrick Besigye Keihwa, said

Ugandan security personnel in the border districts of Kabale in Uganda and Burera in Rwanda were coordinating the process of handing over the body of the deceased to the relatives.

Government of Uganda in November 2019 wrote a note verbale to Rwanda after Rwandan soldiers shot and killed two Ugandan traders over allegations of smuggling.

Job Ebyarishaga and Bosco Tuhirwe were killed at Tabagwe village in Nyagatare District in Rwanda on allegations of smuggling tobacco into the neighbouring East African country.

“The Government of Uganda protests in the strongest terms the murder of its nationals by Rwandan security personnel for allegedly being involved in smuggling of goods across the common border.

The alleged crime cannot justify the high handed and criminal act by the Rwandan security personnel, against unarmed civilians residing along the common border.

Furthermore, the Ministry notes that these murders are inimical to the ongoing efforts to improve relations between the two countries.

The Ministry demands that a joint investigation in the murders be conducted and the perpetrators held accountable,” a statement issued by Mr Ofwono reads in part.