Businessman alleges his life “under threat”

A prominent Rwandan businessman, former parliamentarian and one of the financiers of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front when it was in the bush, Valens Kajeguhakwa, has sent an open letter to Rwandan President Paul Kagame and copies to Rwandan senior officials and foreign embassies based in Kigali. In his letter dated 7th August 2001 and dispatched from Sacramento in the USA, Kajeguhakwa said he could not return home immediately because “my life as well as that of my son Christian Kajeguhakwa is under threat”. Kajeguhakwa who owns a Rwandan bank, Bacar, but was accused by the authorities of “embezzling three billion Rwandan francs”, says in the
letter that his case is a “political dossier” which came about due to “the publication of my autobiography in March 2001 and its launching in Kigali in April”. He also accused security and justice officials of “preparing the fall of Bacar SA and the destruction of my reputation”. He said senior security and justice authorities had searched his bank and residence “in my absence, the absence of my wife and without any witness to represent us”. “Trade companies belonging to the Rwandan Patriotic Front are using force to eliminate companies of other businessmen”, said the former MP adding that the government was “keeping outside the country financial resources larger than the annual budget, from the sale of Congolese minerals”.