Rwanda has accused Uganda of providing refuge to armed groups tied to the 1994 genocide, intensifying diplomatic tensions between East African neighbors. The allegations emerged as hundreds of cargo trucks remain stranded at the Katuna border crossing, a key trade route.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Richard Sezibera cited evidence of Ugandan support for the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) and Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The FDLR, composed of former Rwandan soldiers and Hutu militias involved in the 1994 genocide, has sought to overthrow President Paul Kagame's government. Sezibera stated, "This is another serious case and we have raised it with them," referring to Uganda.
Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa denied the claims, saying, "Uganda cannot allow any entity threatening a neighbor to operate from its territory." The standoff follows Rwanda's February 27 blockade of Ugandan trucks at Katuna, diverting traffic to an alternate checkpoint. Over 100 trucks carrying fuel, food, and construction materials remain stuck, disrupting trade vital to Rwanda's economy.
Rwanda also cited 190 cases of alleged arbitrary detention and deportation of its citizens in Uganda since 2019. The nations' complex history includes Kagame's 1986 guerrilla war with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who later supported Kagame's rebel group during the 1994 genocide. Trade through Uganda remains critical for Rwanda's access to Kenya's Mombasa port.
