President Paul Kagame on Saturday met with Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Lieutenant General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, during which the two discussed steps needed to restore bilateral ties between Rwanda and Uganda.
Gen Muhoozi, who also Uganda’s first son, was in Rwanda in his capacity as Senior Advisor in charge of Special Operations to the Ugandan President.
Details of the meeting between the two were not immediately made public but the Office of the President described the talks as cordial and productive.
“President Kagame and General Muhoozi Kainerugaba had cordial, productive and forward-looking discussions about Rwanda’s concerns and practical steps needed to restore the relationship between Rwanda and Uganda,” according to Presidency.
Gen Muhoozi tweeted after the meeting that, expressing optimism that relations will return to normal.
“I thank President @PaulKagame for the very warm reception my delegation and I received in Kigali today. We held very cordial and in-depth discussions about how to improve our bilateral relations,” Gen Kainerugaba said, adding, “I’m confident that under the leadership of our two Presidents we shall be able to quickly restore our historical good relations.”
Gen Kainerugaba thanked President Kagame for releasing the soldier who is attached to Uganda’s Special Forces Command (SFC).
“…I further thank President @PaulKagame for honoring my request to release our SFC soldier, Private Ronald Arinda, who strayed into Rwandan territory on personal business without permission. I returned with him tonight to Uganda. Longlive the friendship of the two countries,” Gen Kainerugaba said as he concluded a three-part Twitter thread.
On Sunday morning, Gen Kainerugaba tweeted that only enemies would fight the unity of Uganda and Rwanda.
“I have been alive long enough to know that Uganda and Rwanda are one country! In exile in the 1980s me and my family were also called ‘Rwandans’. Only enemies would fight our unity. Let us resolve these small problems quickly and move forward together as always!” Gen Kainerugaba tweeted.
This is a series of attempts by both countries to mend their fractured diplomatic relations that have been icy for close to four years now.
Muhoozi’s visit followed that of Ambassador Adonia Ayebare who was in Kigali, last week, to transmit a special message from President Museveni of Uganda.
Ayebare, who is the Ugandan Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, also doubles as President Museveni’s Special Envoy to Rwanda.
The impact of the dispute has not only affected relations of the citizens on both sides but undermined cross bilateral trade which had hit the record level of $200m.