By Kenneth
Kazibwe, KAMPALA Uganda
President Yoweri Museveni has sent a special message to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, the Nile Post has learnt.
The
message was delivered by Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United
Nations, Adonia Ayebare.
“Thank
you President Paul Kagame for warmly receiving me today to deliver President
Museveni’ special message,”Ayebare tweeted on Monday afternoon.
The
development comes on the backdrop of reports that the talks between Rwanda and
Uganda which have stalled for over three years are set to resume.
Earlier,
the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations who also doubles as the
Commander Land Forces, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba earlier warned anyone abusing
his “uncle” President Paul Kagame.
“This
is my uncle, Afande Paul Kagame. Those who fight him are fighting my family.
They should all be careful,” Lt Gen Muhoozi tweeted on Sunday.
The
latest developments according to experts, point to the resumption of talks
between the two countries.
Since
2017, the relationship between Uganda and Rwanda have been at their lowest with
both countries trading accusations against each other.
Rwanda
accuses Uganda of harbouring rebels plotting to destabilize their government on
top of arresting its citizens but the Kampala establishment denied the same.
In
return, Uganda accused Rwanda of sending spies to Kampala, especially in the
security forces.
The
cold war saw Rwanda close its border with Uganda in 2019 and any citizens
wishing to cross from Kigali are not allowed.
In
2019, Presidents Museveni and Kagame signed an agreement to end the bickering
and a year letter, both countries signed an extradition treaty in a bid to
normalize ties.
However,
the cold relations have continued.
For
example, a number of Ugandans have either being killed or kidnapped by Rwandan
security forces from Ugandan soil in Kisoro with the latest being a Special
Forces Command soldier Pte Baruku Muhuba, attached to 35th Brigade who was
kidnapped in November last year as he patrolled with colleagues in Kisoro.
“You
go and ask the border. I am not the one who closed it. We had discussions (with
Kagame) long ago with mediation of Angola and I have not seen the border being
opened,” Museveni said in an exclusive interview with France 24 in September,
2021.
When
asked about reports that the Kigali establishment sees him as a regional bully,
Museveni dismissed the claims as untrue.
“Well,
a bully how? By doing what? I don’t agree with it. He should tell you how we
are bullies.”
Museveni
however said he could not talk about the reason for the souring relations
between the two neighbouring countries, saying it would be unfair since the
other side (Kagame) is not around to defend themselves.
“I
don’t want to go into that because Mr. Kagame is not here and you are not a
court. I am not going to justifying my position towards you against Mr.Kagame.”
Despite
several comments and provocations on the matter from officials from Rwanda,
President Museveni has in the past avoided commenting on the issues of
relations between the two countries.
Government
officials have also not publicly commented on the matter.
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