A former Rwandan army officer, Rene Rutagungira, who was picked by security operatives from a bar in Kampala on August 8, has been paraded before the military court martial in Makindye.
Under heavy escort, Rutagungira was brought to court in handcuffs alongside senior Ugandan police officers accused of kidnap and forceful repatriation of Rwandan refugees in Uganda.
This trial is historic and could shake diplomatic relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
Rutagungira is suspected of facilitating the repatriation of Lt Joel Mutabazi, a former officer attached to the Rwanda Presidential Republican Guard.
Lt Mutabazi was charged with terrorism, murder, conspiracy to murder, and formation of an armed group, spreading rumors with intention to incite the public against the State, illegal possession of fire arms, forgery and desertion.
Rwandan officials said then he was part of a plot to assassinate President Paul Kagame, charges he unsuccessfully contested in court – before being sentenced to life imprisonment.
Court Martial chairman, Lt Gen Andrew Gutti read the charges today.
The accused are charged with kidnap contrary to Section 242 of the Penal Code Act (cap 120).
Rutagungira in handcuffs
Prosecution alleges the accused on October 25 2013 at Kamengo, Mpigi district while in unlawful possession of guns and grenades, a monopoly of UPDF, abducted Mutabazi before forcefully handing him over to Rwanda.
It remains unclear why the charges are being leveled against the officers now.
But highly placed sources say President Museveni recently received a protest note from the international community over the mistreatment of Rwandan refugees by Ugandan police commanders.
