Uganda-Rwanda Tensions Part III: Kenyatta’s Double Diplomatic Trip within 24 hours!

Today on the 11th March 2019, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta have been busy, as he visited both Kigali meeting Rwandan President Paul Kagame and later in the day at State House, Entebbe in Uganda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

What is really special is how quickly the Kenyan President passed between the Heads of State, as well as how brief it was in Kigali and also in Entebbe. Its also special, that there was no issued statements, joint communications or anything significant dropped hours after the visits. There only been minor dropped quotes and citation in the likes of New Times Rwanda, Chimps Reports/Soft Power News, which are positive and government friendly media outlets in respective countries. Also, some acknowledgement in the Kenyan Press. However, nothing official about this.

Even though it is positive that the Kenyan President have visited Kigali and Entebbe within this short time, as the escalation and growing tensions between the state has significantly strained over the past two weeks. As the Rwandan has closed the border, the Ugandan have arrested and questioned Rwandan nationals, as the states are retaliating against each with various of measures. While not talking or having dialogue between them. As well, as even more questionable behaviour of both …

The talks today between Kenyatta and Kagame might have been pleasant, as the pictures of the event seems joyful. Also, that the cordial meeting between Museveni and Kenyatta, seemed decent enough in the circumstances. But whatever progress or whatever the talks was about. Is surely not easy to know. There was no minutes, was no official documents or any communique of any sorts, that has been released. Not even the pre-text for the 24 hours hasty meetings in Rwanda and Uganda of the Kenyan counterpart.

It is positive that Kenyatta does this, but we doesn’t know with what intention, what mandate or anything he plans to get out of this. Except he is trying to the be giant in the East Africa. The Big-Man able to settle the grievances between neighbours. Because what does it say, that Kagame and Kenyatta held a “a tête a tête” meeting for a brief while, while later holding bilateral talks at Entebbe State House with Museveni. Who knows what it produced or didn’t produce.

That is what I bugged about, because this sort of meetings shouldn’t be kept secret. The narratives, the stories and their plays should be public. For the regard of the trust between the Heads of State and their citizens. All three’s best interest are the public trust and the lack of transparency in this matter. Shows why the tensions between the state is filled with conspiracy and mistrust between both parties. Is because of the lack of open government and lack of proper consultation between the President and the general public. Peace.

Rwanda: FDU-Inkingi – The personal assistant of Mrs. Victorie Ingabire Umuhoza murdered: In whose interest was the crime committed? (10.03.2019)

Inter-Religious Council of Uganda: A Call for Dialogue to Resolve the Conflicts that led to the Rwanda – Uganda Border Closure (07.03.2019)

Kenyatta’s Battle Cry: Oh dear, we can only trust the dead!

This (corruption) is not a war against individuals or communities, it is a war against a crime that robs us the opportunity to build a nation with shared prosperity for all” (…) “Don’t threaten people at funerals. The dead will not help you. The only place where you can get help is at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)” – Uhuru Kenyatta (05.03.2019).

This should be tiring for a man, an executive and the Head of State to repeat, to send the same MEMO again and again. This is the same President that has promised to fight corruption and graft all his career. His tough talk on Corruption has been a driving part behind his political life. Even so, the campaigns, the drives and the assaults on it has been futile, because as long as he has ruled. The Corrupt behaviour have become worse.

President Uhuru Kenyatta have come all out before. He has promised and sent bullets the way of civil servants, cabinet secretaries and public officials should be careful with their actions. Because if they are taken with some ill deeds done.

While the President speak like that, the Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Under-Secretaries and others can get away with it. They are the loyal cronies and their businesses forging a tender, contract or ghost projects are cool. However, if some local nut-job is doing the same in wild-card district out of bound of Nairobi. Trust, that man will be taken down.

We know why the President and Deputy President William Ruto will be allowed to create a vast corporate empire, such greatness and growing altitude, while the state is more corrupt and growing loans. This is surely why the President has more stakes in this and so has closest patrons too. However, they cannot be touched, just like the cartels, who are controlling their respective industries.

Kenyatta knows this, Kenyans knows this, they are not stupid. They can not buy into this stick anymore. This is the second term. This is not the first time at the rodeo. This is the second time and this has been repetitive. The same story, the same issues and the same venting. The rants, the attack on the judiciary, the EACC and whoever fitting the bill. Sooner or later, someone else crosses the path and get pushed into the fire.

We know that the dead cannot help to fight corruption, but the living at this point isn’t helping either. The living might be breathing, but the state is not even having a heat-beat in this case. They are only rigging the machines to show a pulse, but they are clearly not living it. This is just another PR Stunt. They are not really fighting this corruption thing. Then, there businesses, their stratospheric growth during their tenure would be in question. However, they are untouchable. So, they got to play it out this way. Only sounding fierce while doing it. Peace.

Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Sam Kutesa on the Rwanda/Uganda Situation (05.03.2019)

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions Part II: More retaliating measures!

As we have seen over the weekend at the border points between Rwanda and Uganda. There been stoppage of trucks at Katuna Border Post. A place where the trucks been stuck and not able to cross. There are even some whose been able, but they have been fined with higher rates to cross with certain goods like maize and other exports from Uganda to Rwanda.

With this in mind, there been also higher fines on the buses with Rwandan nationals crossing into Uganda. There also been reports of more deployment of soldiers close to the border. As well as three Rwandan Generals arrested, this being Joseph Nzabamwita, Fred Ibingira and Emmanuel Ruvusha. Whose all been arrested as this tension between the Republic are spiralling.

We certainly knows that the Rwandan government is retaliating. They are making it harder for the Ugandans to cross into Rwanda. Also, as the Rwandan government warned their citizens about doing this. Therefore, the buses and trucks are paying more for crossing the borders. That means, in the end the businesses on both sides will be affected and most likely the produce and imports will be more costly for the consumers in the respective country. That is what Rwandan citizens will be doing in the end, because the Ugandan traders have to get their ends.

That is the minor scratches of this, which now is very spiteful. This is happening as there is speculations of spies, sudden arrests and even missing Rwandan nationals in Uganda. As well, as the big-man play of Yoweri Museveni who is possibly supporting rebel outfits in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the RNC and FDLR, whose sole mission is to destroy Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Paul Kagame surely won’t take that kindly and might be the reason for three General arrested recently.

Therefore, the border dispute is getting ugly. As the possible acts of the Presidents are going hard. They are ordering their security organizations and spies all over. The CMI and ISO are surely working overtime, as there reports of new editorial line at Radio Simba FM, where they are coming with spiteful chants about Rwandans. This is surely in retaliation against what is happening.

Now, there is a jam, a long line of trucks, where about 130 are waiting in line waiting to able to cross into Rwanda from Uganda. This is sure sign of how the Rwandan are looking at Uganda. Also, the way the Ugandan are able to deal with Rwanda. As this has been going on for over 4 days, and the measures on the other side is getting more restricted and costly.

There are surely some paranoia both ways, as there are possible ways to diplomatically end this dispute. Where the ones losing is the citizens and businesses. The ones not losing is the ones in power and the elites. It is the bus-passengers and the exporters whose paying the initial price. The public are pawns in the giant chess-set of their masters. The Presidents are playing their game and the pawns are the ones taken out, one by one.

Right now, the Rwandan are exercising their sovereign state activity, they are allowed to close their borders and put tariffs on imports. However, its done as a retaliating measure and not through any notification. Neither, has there seemingly been a regard for the each others nationals behind bars. Which has been used as well as reasons for this. There been no talk about the possible rebel outfits or the sponsoring of such, as that that would be on shady back-stabbing ground.

We will not know how this is going, but surely the template is that it will go on. Until one of the President humiliate himself and actually asks to talk to the other. So, that the functions of the borders goes back to normal and that they can settle the differences that is there. They are both known for playing shadow murky games. This could be more of that, we don’t know at this point. Because, they are not transparent and open about this. Since, then we would see the dark-side of their reign. Peace.

Uganda Revenue Authority letter to Rwanda Revenue Authority: “Subject: Resolution of Congestion at Katuna Border Post” (02.03.2019)

South Sudan: Joint Statement on the Visit of H.E. President Isias Afworki of the State or Eritrea and H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Republic of South Sudan Juba on 4th March 2019 (04.03.2019)

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions: It Escalated this Weekend

This weekend sparked with closure or blocked border points on the Rwandan side, ensuring that the trucks with goods from Uganda was blocked from entering Rwandan territory. This has been happening since 1st March 2019. They have deliberately made it harder for business and export to happen from one to the other. Because of this.

The Rwanda Revenue Authority has claimed it is for building a One Stop Border Point and wanting the Ugandan Nationals and Businessmen to move their vehicles to other borders points, instead of Gatuna Border Points. This is happening, while state officials on both is escalating the crisis between them.

The Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Government Spokesman Dr. Richard Sezibera been saying: “We have advised Rwandans not to go to Uganda because we cannot guarantee their security in Uganda” (James Munyaneza & Collins Mwai – ‘Rwanda warns citizens against travel to Uganda’ 02.03.2019, The New Times – Rwanda).

While Executive Director of Uganda Media Centre Ofwono Opondo stated this yesterday: “All vehicles coming from Rwanda enter well into Uganda but it’s the opposite on the Rwandan side. Rwandese aren’t being allowed to travel and enter Uganda but Ugandan nationals are. What is being stopped are only vehicles because of the blockage” (Uganda Media Centre, 01.03.2019).

Therefore, the Ugandan is indirectly saying that Rwandan are being blocked. While the Rwandan is already warning about them travelling and entering into Uganda. To top it off. Because right now, Rwanda is blocking and denying trucks and goods from Uganda. While Uganda is blocking Rwandan nationals, therefore, the the border squat has escalated with this.

It cannot just be fixing the infrastructure at the Gatuna Border Point. Now, it is something more underneath. As there are alleged arrests, detaining and torture of Rwandan nationals in Uganda. While Rwandan rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo are supported by Museveni, who fights against the Kigali regime of Kagame. That is why there are a lot of speculations and also stirring waters. It is rising into a storm in a water glass.

What we have is to Presidents who are involved in shady business and exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of vast minerals and usage of rebel outfits to be able to do so. As they are earning fortunes on the misfortunes of the Congolese people there. They are sponsoring, training and also weaponizing the conflict there. This is done from Kigali and Kampala and been going on for over two decades. The gentlemen in power knows this, and they are trying to have spies on each to configure who can come on top. However, its now and then it backfires. The intimidation and the plans get disconnected, as the DRC and the other party are able to capture the rebels. Just like what happen with the RNC and FDLR agents visiting Uganda before Christmas 2018 and extradited to Kigali recently.

Therefore, this isn’t about the border point or the Rwandan nationals crossing into Uganda. This isn’t about a blockage of goods and trucks from Uganda. No, this is about political games and also power. This is about two men, two Presidents who wants it all and grab it. Want to outsmart and also lurk in the shadows without getting caught. It is two President that are trying to salvage something, but only loosing out. As both parties are losing valuable time and assets, while playing hide- and seek like this.

President Museveni and President Kagame needs to talk and settle their grievances, before it gets out of hand. These are weapon-brothers who has built their careers together and also went into ventures together elsewhere. Therefore, these two should be able to talk. Instead of letting their citizens and their population suffer, because they have fallen out. That is how it is seems and that is not showing leadership, but greed and lack of diplomatic efforts to settle; whatever these two needs to settle. Peace.

South Sudan: NAS letter to Coly Seck, the President of Human Rights Council (01.03.2019)