Ruot Mawich Yak Deng, the representative of South Sudanese at Kigali Independent University - Courtesy

A representative of South Sudanese students in Rwanda says they are being mistreated allegedly by the immigration officers at the border of Rwanda with Uganda.

Eye Radio cannot independently verify the claims

But, the representative of South Sudanese at Kigali Independent University, Ruot Mawich Yak Deng says whenever students cross from Uganda to Rwanda, the immigration officers subject them to interrogation despite proving they are students in the country’s universities.

They claim Rwanda officers often requested them to produce bank slips to prove they paid tuition fees and documents from their landlords or landladies.

Deng said many of the students have decried the process of entering Kigali from the Ugandan border.

“There are so many cases that get us at the border and especially that side of Rwanda, when you reach the border side of Rwanda, they would ask you about your passport and after they verify your passport then they would ask about the amount of the money you have,” Deng told Eye Radio.

“They would again ask you for the admission letter from the University, they also ask you about the house where are you going to stay, when you say that I’m going to rent my house, they say no, first of all, give us an agreement between you and the landlord or the landlady, can you say that. how can you connect with the university or the landlord while you are still at the border,” he said.

“Again they ask you to pay the school fees for the first semester, how will you pay the school fees at the border, while you have not even reached the school.”

According to Ruot, there are nearly 3,000 South Sudanese students in Rwanda.

He wondered why students from South Sudan, which is a member of the East African community were treated like this.

However, according to the Rwanda Directorate General of immigration, a permit issued to a foreigner who is in Rwanda for study purposes should provide any genuine acceptable travel document valid for not less than 6 months.

Other requirements are a recommendation letter from the school, a sponsorship letter, and original police clearance for students above 18 years of age.

For his part, South Sudan’s Ambassador to Uganda, Simon Juac Deng who is also representing the country in Rwanda and Burundi says he will confirm with the concerned official in Rwanda.

“I will ask the student leaders in Rwanda for further information otherwise this can be an isolated case,” Amb. Juac said.

“I have asked my immigration Chief to find out specific details,” he added.