The outgoing year 2011 seems to have come with most solutions in the Rwanda’s political arena.
Memories of president Paul Kagame appointing Louise Mushikiwabo as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, progressive diplomatic ties begun to have another face.
The most celebrated one was the renewal of diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Uganda that saw warm reciprocal visits.
From the time the two countries clashed in the DR Congo war, the bilateral relationship begun to sour almost every each minute intense security alert was raised on both countries borders.
The neighbors begun to totally treat each other like strangers despite the shared history which included inter-marriages.
This year’s Christmas, President Paul Kagame, his wife Jannette Kagame and their children Ange, Brian and Ian celebrated the eve in Uganda at President Yoweri Museveni’s home in Rwakitura.
In July Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his wife Mrs Janet Museveni were also given a warm reception to an official state banquet held in honor of their visit to Rwanda.
The banquet held at the model village in Kayonza where President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame received their guest at their country home.
As they entered a room filled with Rwandan and Ugandan officials, the sense of union that President Kagame carried was palpable.
President Kagame began his toast by warmly welcoming his counterpart President Museveni and his wife Mrs Janet Museveni.
This reminded everyone present of Rwanda and Uganda’s historical, cultural and political bonds.
“The sense of fraternity between our people which was evident gained strength during the visit,” Kagame said then.
President Museveni’s speech was an equally powerful testament to the depth of the relationship between both nations.
Museveni expressed his gratitude to Rwandans for their role in the Ugandan liberation struggle.
“I salute Rwandans that participated in our (Uganda’s) liberation struggle. President Kagame was among those that helped us liberate our country,”Museveni also noted that time.
Prior to the official banquet, President Kagame accompanied and gave out 10 long horned cattle commonly known as ‘Inyambo’ to President Museveni.
In Rwandan culture, a cow is the best, expensive and valuable gift a person can give to a close friend as well as in the tribe of Banyankore/Bahima of which Museveni and his wife belong.
President Museveni had also a day before joined the residents of Kanombe, Kicukiro District for the monthly communal service ‘Umuganda’ where he laid a foundation stone to a Nine Year Basic Education of Camp Kanombe.
Renewal agreements were also signed between the two countries and now both countries are enjoying secure and trusted exchange of activities of their citizens.
This simply showcases that the year 2011 has been a year to fortify bilateral ties between something that is set to boost and harmonize economic, political and security relations between Rwanda’s allies.
Official quotes
“We must remain focused as two neighbours living together in peace. So, irrespective of what has happened in the past, misunderstandings and their causes, we have to focus on the importance of living as neighbours in peace and work towards getting rid of the causes of the problems between Uganda and us,” Kagame said.
“The sour blood between Rwanda and Uganda is no more as the two countries continue to get along,” Kagame said while cementing the renewed relationship.
“We are good neighbours with Rwanda,” Museveni said recently on a visit to Ndorwa at the Uganda-Rwanda border during the inauguration of Kigali-Gatuna to Mbarara highway.
In addition President Museveni added, “Rwanda is now a stable country and you should take this chance to do business there.”
“Our governments are linked by close historical ties of common values. Rwanda and Uganda share a colonial heritage, including issues of dictatorship and liberation struggles,” Mushikiwabo said.
Two states historical alliances
Both countries have governments born out of revolutions that swept away dictatorship and restored stability, rule of law and democracy.
Their armies also have a common history and made significant contributions in shaping the destinies of the neighboring nations.
Many Ugandans and Rwandans have parents, relatives and friends on either side of the border. President Kagame and President Museveni are also old students of Ntare School in western Uganda.
On top of that, the historical bond between the two countries seems to have been strengthened by Rwandans huge involvement in the Uganda’s liberation war and as well Uganda’s involvement in the Rwanda’s liberation war in 1990s that stopped the 1994 Tutsi Genocide.
Relationship Restoration
Efforts to mend ties between the two countries began in 2002 through to 2003. In 2006, Rwanda and Uganda decided to revive mechanisms intended to normalize their relationship, political stability, security and economic interests.
Political leaders held meetings in both countries and in Europe to pave way for amendments of the torn apart relationship.
At a lower level, the military chiefs of both countries held quarterly joint meetings to discuss their contribution to fast-tracking the normalization of relations between the two countries.
Other relations earned included restoring France’s diplomatic ties and winning others like Australia and Sri-lanka among others on international scene.
Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan also visited Rwanda on a mission to have a health bilateral relationships between the two countries.
This was followed by President Denis Sasou-Nguesso of Congo Brazaville who also cemented diplomacy of two countries not forgetting Ivory Coast.
ENDS
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