Uganda:CMI Detains Fidel Gatsinzi, Top Rwanda Patriotic Front Official

Crime &Investigation

CHIMPREPORTS

Uganda’s Military Intelligence is holding a high ranking Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) member over alleged espionage and engaging in activities which threaten Uganda’s national security, Chimp Corps report.

Fidel Gatsinzi was picked from Capital Shoppers Supermarket in Ntinda, Kampala on Saturday, November 9.

The First Counsellor at Rwanda’s High Commission in Uganda, Noel Mucyo, told this investigative website that Gatsinzi is in the hands of military intelligence.

“We have confirmed with Uganda’s military intelligence that they have him,” said Mucyo.

Asked to respond to accusations of espionage, Mucyo said he could not comment on the allegations as they were not officially communicated to the High Commission.

“We will respond when authorities officially write to us,” said Mucyo, adding, “What we know is that Gatsinzi is innocent.”

Highly placed sources said Gatsinzi is being investigated by security services for spying on Uganda since 1999.

“His major task here was to collect intelligence from Uganda parallel to what Rwanda High Commission was doing,” said a high ranking source who preferred anonymity so as to speak freely.

Security also is investigating claims that Gatsinzi was tasked to move across Uganda mobilizing Ugandan Banyarwanda to join groups which were opposed to president Museveni including Dr Kizza Besigye among others.

Gatsinzi was the RPF Chairman for Mbarara District in early 1990s as the guerilla movement planned to invade Rwanda.

At the time, Mbarara was a major logistical base for RPF.

RPF vehicles which broke down during operations were repaired from Mbarara.

The town also served as a base for treating injured soldiers and mobilising food and medical supplies for combatants on the battlefield in Rwanda.

With the town playing a big role in this strategic operation, Gatsinzi was very active in RPF’s underground mobilisation work.

ChimpReports understands Gatsinzi was on Uganda security’s radar for several years before his arrest last week.

Mucyo told us the High Commission has since written to the Foreign Affairs Ministry about Gatsinzi’s arrest.

It’s yet to receive feedback on this matter.

He expressed hope that the issue would be resolved amicably.

Uganda Army spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire said he was yet to receive a brief on the matter but that he would update us in due course.

“No information on this,” said Karemire, adding, “I will check.”

Relations

This development comes against the backdrop of weakened ties between Uganda and Rwanda over harassment of Rwandan refugees in Uganda, espionage and failure to honour commitments in the implementation of joint infrastructural projects.

Observers say the two sister countries should reinforce diplomatic efforts to resolve the outstanding disputes amicably.

CMI recently arrested Uganda police officers and Rwandan operatives who have since been charged at the military court at Makindye for kidnap and illegal repatriation of President Kagame’s former bodyguard Lt Joel Mutabazi.

The Uganda operations, according to informed sources, are aimed at “breaking Rwanda security’s network here that reaches every sphere of our life.”

Gatsinzi is said to be a close relative of Maj Gen Richard Rutatina, the former chief of Rwanda’s Directorate of Military Intelligence. This website could independently verify this claim.

Ugandan officials say they suspect Gatsinzi for having misled Rwanda about Uganda mobilizing forces to attack Rwanda in years of 2000.

Gatsinzi is also accused of recruiting Banyarwanda in Uganda to serve in rebel outfits fighting the governments of DRC and Burundi.

Security officials further revealed that Gatsinzi was a subject of investigation in several killings of suspected Rwandan refugees/dissidents, in Mpororo and Kiboga, Mubende, Kyaka2, Nakivale, Mbarara and Kampala.

It’s also understood Gatsinzi recruits youth from Ugandan universities to join Rwandan cadets for both police and army.

“He is suspected of identifying refugees in Uganda and recruiting them in Rwandan external intelligence and he is the one who recruited Rene Rutagungira,” said a source.