By Spy Uganda
Kampala: According to the latest from our sources, Rwandan government has finally accepted fresh talks with Ugandan leaders to curb the enmity that has led to the death of a couple of citizens from both countries accused of illegal border crossings.
READ ALSO: Museveni Warns Ugandans Crossing To Rwanda Over ‘Criminal’ Border Shootings: Cross At Your Own Risk
Sources have revealed to us that high ranking officials from both countries are holding talks aiming at “defusing the chances of a conventional conflict” that would have “disastrous effects on both sides.”
In fact the above comes few hours after the commander of the land forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Force Lt.Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba tweeted this morning thus;
READ ALSO: Ugandan Gov’t Frees Over 80 Rwandans From Detention, Deports Them To Rwanda
“This is my uncle, Afande Paul Kagame. “Those who fight him are fighting my family. They should all be careful.”
But What Is The Root Cause Of Scuffle At the Border?
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.
READ ALSO: Presidents Kagame, Museveni Arrive In Katuna For Rwanda Uganda Dialogue
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.
