News / Africa
Zimbabwe and South Africa detaining thousands of Rwandans without trial
30 Mar 2013 at 06:56hrs | Views
The leadership of the Ugandans in the diaspora are investigating circumstances under which over 5,000 Ugandans are being detained in Zimbabwe and South Africa without trial.
The development follows media reports that there are about 5,800 Ugandans held in prisons of both countries for unspecified period of time.
The media recently quoted the executive director human rights defenders Gideon Tugume, saying; "More than 500 Ugandan prisoners have been identified in South Africa (mainly in Pretoria and Johannesburg) and more than 5,000 in Zimbabwe".
However the head of Diaspora, Elogu said they had embarked on investigations to ascertain the actual number of Ugandans being held in both countries and the reason for their arrest.
"We want to find out who is where, have they been charged, we want to ensure that due process is followed, you cannot keep people in the cells for long," said Elogu.
He made the remarks yesterday during a press conference on the fourth coming Uganda convention Nordics 2013 which will take place starting 28 -30 June in Stockholm Sweden.
Elogu who could not confirm the alleged 5,000 number of arrested Ugandans in both countries said; "we are trying to get in touch with our local embassies there, to get the exact number it is difficult to say how many were arrested".
He however urged Ugandans abroad to respect policies of countries where they travel for greener pasture.
"When you travel and infringe on certain aspects of the law of that country, chances are high you would be arrested," he said.
Many Ugandans have been victims of arrest in many foreign countries such as china where they have been arrested for long without trial.
Meanwhile, the chairman Ugandan convention Nordics, Peter Ntende said preparations for the Ugandan convention Nordics 2013, were in high gear.
He said they would use the convention to promote Uganda's tourism and oil sector to potential investors in the Nordic countries such as Sweden, Denmark Norway among others to attract more investors to Uganda.
The development follows media reports that there are about 5,800 Ugandans held in prisons of both countries for unspecified period of time.
The media recently quoted the executive director human rights defenders Gideon Tugume, saying; "More than 500 Ugandan prisoners have been identified in South Africa (mainly in Pretoria and Johannesburg) and more than 5,000 in Zimbabwe".
However the head of Diaspora, Elogu said they had embarked on investigations to ascertain the actual number of Ugandans being held in both countries and the reason for their arrest.
"We want to find out who is where, have they been charged, we want to ensure that due process is followed, you cannot keep people in the cells for long," said Elogu.
He made the remarks yesterday during a press conference on the fourth coming Uganda convention Nordics 2013 which will take place starting 28 -30 June in Stockholm Sweden.
He however urged Ugandans abroad to respect policies of countries where they travel for greener pasture.
"When you travel and infringe on certain aspects of the law of that country, chances are high you would be arrested," he said.
Many Ugandans have been victims of arrest in many foreign countries such as china where they have been arrested for long without trial.
Meanwhile, the chairman Ugandan convention Nordics, Peter Ntende said preparations for the Ugandan convention Nordics 2013, were in high gear.
He said they would use the convention to promote Uganda's tourism and oil sector to potential investors in the Nordic countries such as Sweden, Denmark Norway among others to attract more investors to Uganda.
Source - AllAfrica
