SFC Soldier ‘Kidnapped’ by Rwanda Army

A Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) soldier attached to the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) has reportedly gone missing.

The soldier is reported to have been grabbed by Rwandan security operatives in Kabale District under unclear circumstances.

Pte Ronald Arinda, 23, who hails from Kakyerere ward, in Ryakarimira town council is said to have been kidnapped on Saturday at around midday, at Omukiyovu trading centre which is located at the border of Uganda and Rwanda in Kabale District.

Canon Enock Kazooba, the LCIII Chairperson of Lyakarimira town council, says Arinda was on his pass leave after completing a UPDF tank course.

“We are told that he was tricked by Rwandan security informers who live at the border on the Ugandan side; they told him that they had some heads of cattle they wanted to sell to him. However, in the middle of their conversation, Rwandan security operatives emerged and kidnapped him. We don’t know the motive of this kidnap and we are worried about his life,” Kazooba said.

Canon kazooba says Pte Arinda had his UPDF identity card and a copy of his pass leave document at the time of the said kidnap.

He adds that at least one Ugandan national suspected to have been a collaborator in the kidnap of the UPDF soldier has been arrested and is being questioned.

Some of Pte Arinda’s relatives told the Ugandan security team that he was planning to buy the cows to pay dowry for his wife as he planned to get married.

Godfrey Nyakahuma, The Kabale Resident District commissioner says he has already sent the information about the soldier’s alleged kidnap to higher offices in Kampala for further management.

“It is true that our UPDF soldier, Ronald Arinda was kidnapped by the Rwandan security operatives at Omukiyovu border trading center. I have submitted a report on the matter to the higher offices in Kampala,” said Nyakahuma.

Brig Flavia Byekwaso, The UPDF spokesperson, on Monday confirmed that the UPDF soldier was “arrested” by the Rwandan security operatives.

“It’s true that the arrested UPDF soldier was attached to SFC and was on his pass leave. The higher offices in the country shall handle the matter,” she said.

In June this year Rwandan security operatives captured a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier, Private Baruku Muhuba attached to the 35 brigade in Kisoro District as he patrolled the borderline before he was later released.