The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Muhoozi works on reconciliation
This is not the first time tensions are emerging between Kampala and Kigali. Way back in 1997 the two countries clashed in DR Congo. But Museveni and Kagame appeared reconciled and warming to each other as recently as 2011.
After 13 years of rivalry and mutual distrust, with accusations of mutual sabotage and assassination plots, the two presidents rebuilt their friendship largely relying on family ties.
The reconciliation caught many by surprise because only eleven months earlier, Museveni had summoned Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambagye and given him a message for his president, that Kagame had allied with Libyan leader at the time, Muammar Gadaffi, to overthrow his government.
The Independent learned from insiders at the time that the President’s son, Lt.Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba sat with friends and decided to take the initiative to bridge the communication gap that had fed the distance between the two presidents and their establishments.
Apparently, Muhoozi initiated plans to travel to Rwanda as an informal contact between the two presidents. It was a tough gamble because, outside of family, many efforts by international and regional players had failed. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had attempted to resolve the tensions and failed. Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa had also tried and failed.
To initiate such a delicate process, Muhoozi sought and got a nod from one of the most influential people on such matters, his uncle, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh.
With Gen.Saleh on board, other players; especially security organisations that were feeding each side with toxic intelligence, picked the signal of contact between the two at close family level, and the standoff eased.
Muhoozi now needed to find out if Kagame would welcome the olive branch. He sent an emissary to the Rwandan president suggesting a meeting with him to begin the process. Kagame welcomed the idea and gave Muhoozi a go-ahead to be the contact between him and Museveni. With Kagame on board, Muhoozi brought his plans to his father’s attention.
“I have known Paulo (Kagame) for many years and no one knows him better than me,” Museveni reportedly said when he was brief on Muhoozi’s move, “So I will personally travel to Rwanda for a visit and open the dialogue myself.”
That masterstroke by Museveni unlocked diplomatic momentum and on April 21, Museveni wrote a letter to Kagame.
“I would like to come and visit your country so that we can sit and iron out these differences amicably,” Museveni said in the letter. It was a bold and unprecedented move that, sources say, took Kagame by complete surprise.
After the visits, in January 2012, Museveni crowned this process by officially recognising the role Rwandans played in Uganda’s liberation when he bestowed the Kagera Medal on Kagame and Fred Rwigyema (posthumously) during the 26th anniversary of NRM’s coming to power. Museveni also bestowed upon Kagame the highest medal the state of Uganda can give – only reserved for heads of state – the Pearl of Africa Medal.
The 2011 rapprochement appears distant today but not impossible.
Part of the reason is Kagame has revealed a very firm hand which, for resolution, requires that Museveni looks at the causes of the tension from the Kigali perspective. But that is unlikely because Museveni has more immediate business – the 2021 presidential election.
Apart from this, while the heads of Ugandan security in 2011 were seen as friendly to Rwanda, those in charge now are viewed with suspicion. In 2011, the Uganda Police which was at the apex of Uganda’s internal security system was headed by Gen. Kale Kayihura, who owing to his close family ties with Kagame was seen as friendly to Rwanda. Kayihura enjoyed trust from President Museveni.
The Internal Security Organisation (ISO) was under Ronnie Balya, who was also seen as friendly to Rwanda. Also at the time, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president’s son was actively involved and more influential in both police because of a good relationship with Gen. Kayihura and the army because he headed Special Forces. Indeed, it was not surprising that the talks were Muhoozi’s initiative.
The circumstances are completely different. Col. Kaka Bagyenda and Brig. Abel Kandiho who took over respectively at the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and are calling the shots at the apex of Ugandan security are seen as unfriendly by the Rwandan establishment. Rwandan intelligence has even linked Kahindo to rebel activity against them.
These circumstances, insiders say, are at the heart of what stands in the way of any diplomatic efforts to reconcile Kigali and Kampala.
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Very good article although a little leaning towards Ugandan position, let’s hope both leaders come to their senses and find common ground, if they was a conflit everyone would lose .
“The EAC Secretary General Libérat Mfumukeko has not taken any initiative partly because, some say, his home country, Tanzania, might fear to antagonise Rwanda and Uganda for business reasons.” wrong fact Haggai, correct it quickly………….it goes on to say that your conclusion is equally erroneous because of the premise it is based on.
” The EAC Secretary General Libérat Mfumukeko has not taken any initiative partly because, some say, his home country, Tanzania, might fear to antagonise Rwanda and Uganda for business reasons.” this is a WRONG FACT Haggai and so must be a conclusion based on such a premise. The SG is a Burundian.
“We are happy for Rwanda. This new addition by RwandAir should inspire all of us in the travel industry. When Rwandans are wealthy we are also wealthy because they always choose Uganda as their best destination to spend money,” he said.
This was said by Amos Wekesa at Entebbe on 26 Sept 2016 as they were giving the Rwandair Airbus a water salute because it landed at Entebbe before even reaching home. This and many other uncountable examples is proof that Ugandans and Rwandans are brothers who have no reason to quarrel…….unless a third party comes in to stir them up using insider proxies. They should be cursed forthwith.
the two presidents should differentiate between politics and business instead of integrating them more so president KAGAME (this is because the local people are most likely to suffer than presidents)
Kagame letter and museven letter all this I read it 1 what I have seen from kagame is that he thinks that Uganda is not going to supple him with the power since the power have delayed 2 kagame have dreamed in his bad my one day that he have enemy coming to turn his power as Uganda is the nouber maybe is the one 3 and last but not the list if kagame is talking about harassment in BODA is it okay to him as a good leader that all the bodas if people a crossing they should move free and fear without asking them that who a u ? and were a u coming from? is it okay to u ? 4 closing a international BODA is it okay to u ? Kagame according to me museven reply to letter to u is not bad he is remanding even u for what they have discuss before with u thanks