Some Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) officers who had sought political asylum in Rwanda are currently undergoing treatment in Kigali, Rwanda News Agency (RNA) quoted official sources as saying. It said some of the officers had signs of “torture” citing Colonel Samson Mande, who had his genitals damaged and is said to be recovering from injuries at a clinic in Kigali. More than 50 UPDF soldiers have defected to Rwanda accusing their government of political persecution, corruption and torture. Uganda also holds Rwandan army officers who fled the country for different reasons, RNA noted. A Rwandan official contacted by IRIN on Thursday declined to confirm or deny the presence of the Ugandan soldiers saying the issue was “political”.
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