CLARIFICATION Attn: Tabu butagira and Tom Voltare Okwalinga A section of the media including the social media carried stories that Uganda Police Force was involved in the abduction of Rwandan refugees using fake Interpol arrest warrants. This information is not correct. On August 14th, 2013, the Government of Rwanda sent a formal request for the arrest and extradition of one Lt. Joel Mutabazi, formerly a member of Rwandan Military. The request was sent by Interpol Kigali, to Interpol Kampala. The request indicated that Lt. Mutabazi is a Rwandan national, who is wanted by Rwanda National Police for the offence of armed robbery. The offence allegedly occurred at 10.00pm on September 20th, 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda. Lt. Mutabazi is accused together with two other individuals. Lt. Mutabazi and others, while armed with three submachine guns (AK-47 assault rifles) attacked Banque de Kigali, Remera branch and stole Ten Million Rwanda Francs (10,000,000 Frw). Two suspects were later arrested while Lt. Mutabazi escaped to an unknown destination. Interpol Kigali requested Interpol Kampala to assist in locating the whereabouts of the suspect, arrest him and extradite him to Kigali, in accordance with the law, to face trial for the offences committed. On August 20, 2013 at 3:00pm, Uganda Police located the suspected fugitive at UNIK Hotel in Kyaliwajjala, a Kampala suburb. Police Officers went to the hotel, identified themselves to the manager, and arrested the suspect. They detained him at Jinja Road Police Station, pending further processing and formal extradition to Rwanda. During our inquiries, it was found out that the suspect had acquired refugee status and was under the protection of UNHCR and Office of the Prime Minister. The Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Hon. Musa Ecweru, contacted the Inspector General of Police about Lt. Mutabazi’s arrest, and informed him that the suspect was under the protection of the Office of the Prime. The Inspector General of Police requested Hon. Ecweru for an official letter confirming whether the fugitive had acquired refugee status in Uganda. On receipt of the confirmation letter, the suspect was released to the Commissioner of Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister on 21st August 2013. There was, therefore, no abduction, kidnap or use of fake Interpol warrant of arrest as alleged by a section of the media. This was a routine request from Interpol, which was subjected to due process, and a decision made based on the laws of Uganda, and relevant International Conventions to which Uganda is party. It should be noted, that the Uganda Police Force would not hand over the suspect to any country, without going through legal procedures of deportation or extradition, as the law requires. We are, however, not aware of the arrest of a Mr. Innocent Kalisa. We are inquiring into the alleged arrest and detention of Mr. Kalisa. SSENKUMBI IBIN Spokesperson Kampala Metro. Police
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:27:43 +0000
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