Rights group says Rwanda detains wife of opposition figure

KAMPALA, Uganda – Human Rights Watch is urging Rwandan authorities to charge or free the wife of an opposition figure who it says has been held incommunicado for more than two weeks.

The group said Monday that Violette Uwamahoro, who has been living in the United Kingdom, was last heard from on February 14 when she arrived at the main bus station in Kigali, the capital. She went to Rwanda to attend her father’s funeral.

Uwamahoro’s husband, Faustin Rukundo, is a member of the Rwanda National Congress, an opposition group in exile.

Human Rights Watch cited a statement by a police spokesman who said Uwamahoro was arrested for involvement in criminal activities.

The rights group said several individuals suspected of links with government opponents have disappeared in recent years.