Rwandan journalists fleeing persecution face fresh threats in Uganda

Uganda has long offered refuge to Rwandans fleeing political persecution, but several journalists who crossed the border seeking safety say threats, intimidation and violence have continued to haunt them in exile.

Some journalists, opposition figures and government critics say they have faced attacks and received death threats despite settling in Uganda, raising concerns about their safety and the protection of political refugees.

Among them is journalist Bihibindi Nuhu, who fled Rwanda following the death of independent reporter John Williams Ntwali in January 2023.

Bihibindi was among the last journalists to meet Ntwali before his death in what Rwandan authorities described as a road accident. He later revealed that Ntwali had expressed fears for his life before the incident.

Weeks later, Bihibindi disappeared after leaving for what he understood to be a seminar. His family lost contact with him, sparking concern among fellow journalists and human rights organisations.

He resurfaced in Kampala several months later, but his troubles were far from over.

Speaking in a brief interview, Bihibindi described a life marked by fear, threats and sleepless nights. He said even routine activities had become dangerous.

“Even leaving my room to buy something to eat became a frightening experience,” he said.

He claimed that threatening emails and messages followed him throughout his stay in Kampala. Friends say his condition improved after he moved to another country, where he has since started rebuilding his life.

His experience has revived memories of Charles Ingabire, a Rwandan journalist who was murdered in Kampala after fleeing his country.

Ingabire arrived in Uganda in 2007 following threats linked to his reporting on the Rwandan government. He continued publishing critical articles through Inyenyeri News, an online publication.

In September 2011, unidentified attackers assaulted him, stole his computer and warned him to close the publication. He refused to stop reporting.

On November 30, 2011, gunmen shot him twice in the chest at a bar in Kampala's Bukesa suburb. Police recovered five spent cartridges from the scene.

More than a decade later, no one has been convicted of his murder.

The killing sent shockwaves through the Rwandan refugee community. Less than a month later, another Rwandan exile, Jerome Ndagijimana, was found murdered in Kampala.

Ndagijimana, an opposition member who had secured refugee status in Uganda, was discovered with his throat slit in December 2011.

Ugandan authorities opened investigations into both killings, but the cases remain unresolved, with no reported prosecutions.

Another journalist, Nduwumwe Faruk, formerly of Rwanda Television, says he encountered similar dangers after escaping to Uganda in 2017.

Faruk claims he fled Rwanda following intimidation and death threats connected to his criticism of sports administration and alleged military interference in football.

He hoped to find protection in Uganda, but says threats continued after his arrival. He later reported an assault in Sseeta, near Kampala, prompting him to seek safety in a third country.

Other Rwandan journalists have also left their country in recent years amid concerns over press freedom and political persecution.

They include Agnes Nkusi, formerly associated with Umurabyo TV, who has publicly linked her departure to fears of arrest and persecution over her journalism.

Nkusi has continued reporting from exile.

Other journalists reported to have fled Rwanda include Irasubiza Jules of Jalas TV and Théogène Manirakiza of Ukwezi.

Some Rwandan journalists living in Uganda claim they still receive threats, although not all the allegations could be independently verified.

Ugandan authorities, however, reject suggestions that Rwandan refugees face widespread insecurity in the country.

Officials from the Office of the Prime Minister's Directorate of Refugees maintain that Uganda remains committed to protecting people fleeing persecution, regardless of their nationality.

Rwanda has also rejected accusations that it pursues journalists, opposition politicians and government critics beyond its borders. Kigali maintains that allegations of attacks against its critics abroad are unfounded.

Uganda's relatively open refugee policy, proximity to Rwanda and established Rwandan communities have made it a destination for people escaping political pressure.

However, the unresolved murders of Ingabire and Ndagijimana, alongside more recent accounts of intimidation, have raised questions about the protection available to journalists living in exile.

For those who have fled Rwanda, crossing the border may provide an escape from immediate danger, but the experiences of some journalists suggest that finding lasting safety can remain a struggle.