By Spy Uganda
Kabale: Yesterday evening local authorities in Kabale intercepted a Rwandan soldier who was being pursued by fellow soldiers from Rwanda over yet to be known reasons.
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TheSpy Uganda has since learnt that Ndagijimana is registered as number 112574 in RDF and is attached to Alpha Taskforce of 17th Battalion, 501 Brigade based at Nyamicucu barracks, Burera District, Rwanda.
Now, the latest we are getting is that private Ndagijimana who was first detained in Kabale has been picked by UPDF and transferred to the 2nd Division Mbarara.
READ ALSO: Museveni Warns Ugandans Crossing To Rwanda Over ‘Criminal’ Border Shootings: Cross At Your Own Risk
According to Ugandan authorities, Ndagijimana was found in possession of 1 sub-machine gun with 27 rounds of ammunition.
These come on top of the deteriorating relationship between Uganda and Rwanda since 2019.
Genesis Of Ties
When a young Yoweri Museveni launched his rebellion to seize Uganda’s presidency in 1981, he found a vital ally in an exiled Rwandan soldier named Paul Kagame. The former guerilla leaders have been presidents of their respective countries for 33 and 19 years now, but their relationship has soured since those early days during Uganda’s Bush War.
Tensions escalated sharply earlier last year, as both men hurled accusations of sabotage, and Rwanda sealed its border with Uganda, halting trade and issuing a travel advisory. In August 2019, Kagame and Museveni met in Luanda, Angola to sign a memorandum of understanding meant to end their standoff and repair relations.
READ ALSO: Ugandan Journalist To Rot In Rwandan Prison Until Kagame Lifts COVID-19 Lockdown
The brinkmanship between Rwanda and Uganda has already taken an economic toll. The Ugandan Ministry of Trade recorded millions of dollars in losses, resulting from the border closure, and accused the Rwandan government of effectively imposing a trade embargo.
READ ALSO: Angolan President Lourenço In Kigali For Rwanda-Uganda Dialogue
The current showdown may be the worst in years. In addition to the border closure, Museveni and Kagame have taken to jousting in highly public arenas. It all began in February 2019, when Ugandan authorities claimed that “external forces” were plotting to overthrow Museveni, and seemed to point a finger at Rwanda. Rwandan diplomats in turn asserted that Uganda had detained, tortured and illegally deported Rwandan citizens and sheltered dissidents.
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In March 2020, Kagame used an annual leadership retreat in Rwanda to lob his own incendiary allegations against Museveni, claiming that he has been trying to topple him for the past two decades and declared, “No one can bring me to my knees.”
Not to be outdone, Museveni responded. “Those who want to destabilize our country do not know our capacity,” he said, while commissioning factories outside of Kampala. “Once we mobilize, you can’t survive.” Months later, in July 2019, police in Uganda arrested 40 Rwandans living in the country. The intelligence services cited unspecified security concerns.
