A Rwandan named Kadoyi Albert, who works as a truck driver, is currently in prison in Uganda after being involved in an accident.
According to information obtained by UMUSEKE, Kadoyi was driving to Mombasa, Kenya, on March 23, 2024, when he had an accident. He was imprisoned on April 9, 2024.
He has been held for several months at Masafu Prison, located on Majanja Road in Busia.
A close source revealed that Kadoyi’s family is very confused, as he has not been tried or sentenced. They have been told he would be released, but nothing has happened since April. The accident did not result in any fatalities. Kadoyi was driving a large truck when it collided with another vehicle near the border between Uganda and Kenya.
The source stated that Ugandan police assessed the situation and, seeing there were no deaths, initially let him go. However, they later called him back to retrieve some documents, at which point he was arrested in what the source claims was an unlawful manner.
After his arrest, his colleague from Max Logistic Ltd, the company he worked for, did not inform the authorities about the truck’s ownership.
Rwandan law enforcement helped locate him and confirmed he was in Masafu Prison. Max Logistic had agreed to cooperate with Ugandan police and had provided a deposit of one million Ugandan shillings to cover damages, which was supposed to be handled within 72 hours, but this did not happen.
The source added, “The Ugandan authorities keep saying he will be released, but he remains in prison. He hasn’t been charged with any crime.”
He also noted that prolonged road issues shouldn’t lead to such a lengthy detention, stressing the family is suffering, and the children have stopped attending school.
The Director of Max Logistic, Rindiro Chrysostome, told UMUSEKE that Kadoyi had no formal contract with them. “I didn’t hire him. He was operating that truck without my knowledge, and I don’t know who authorized him to drive it,” he said.
Rindiro stated they contacted the Rwandan Bureau of Investigation (RIB) for assistance, but they learned that Kadoyi is still in the Ugandan legal system. He emphasized that since there were no deaths in the accident, they are unclear on the charges against him. According to Rwandan law, insurance should cover damages in accidents.
Kadoyi’s situation remains unresolved as they await a decision from the Ugandan courts.
The leader of the large truck drivers’ union, ACPLRWA, Kanyagisaka Justin, commented that this issue is known among them. He noted that the legal matters surrounding the accident should not have led to imprisonment.
He added that when accidents occur, trucks and driver documents are usually seized until the situation is resolved, but Kadoyi’s employer could have taken steps to retrieve the truck.
Kanyagisaka confirmed that they have informed Rwandan authorities about Kadoyi’s situation but have yet to receive updates on the case.
UMUSEKE attempted to contact Dr. Murangira B. Thierry, spokesperson for the Ugandan Directorate of Criminal Investigations, but did not receive a response.
The family continues to seek answers about Kadoyi’s release or whether he will be sent back to Rwanda for any potential charges. Reports indicate that Masafu Prison is known for harsh conditions in Uganda.
