On Wednesday 16th March 2022, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations and Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba concluded his three-day visit to Rwanda.
Before coming to Rwanda, Lt Gen Muhoozi revealed that the visit is part of efforts to mend relations between Rwanda and Uganda that deteriorated since 2017.
His previous visit to Rwanda was on 22nd January 2022, a move that was followed by the reopening of Gatuna border.
Later on, Rwanda reopened all land borders on 7th March 2022.
Following the second visit of Lt Gen Muhoozi, the Government Spokesperson has via Twitter handle revealed that there are pending issues to be resolved.
“Despite all the positivity and progress of the 2nd visit to Kigali by Lt. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, there’s still need to pay attention to underlying unresolved issues, raised from the start, of known hostile persons bent on destabilizing Rwanda, still operating in Uganda,” she tweeted.
“Also pending is continued hateful media propaganda produced by Uganda-based individuals including Obed Katurebe aka RPF Gakwerere, Sula Nuwamanya, Gerald Tindifa, Robert Higiro, Asiimwe Kanamugire, etc. We patiently await action by Ugandan authorities on this unfinished business,” Makolo added.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday 16th March 2022, Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente also observed that there has been a progress towards mending ties with Uganda but insisted that restoring relations to normal is a process that cannot be finished in one day.
During the activity held on 16th March 2022, 180 people mainly women and children received treatment.
The people of Gorom Payam thanked Rwandan peacekeepers for health services provided to them.
Rwanbatt3 Deputy Contingent Commander, Lt Col Alex Nkuranga thanked the population of Gorom Payam and their leaders for good collaboration with Rwandan peacekeepers.
The medal pinning parade was held in Malakal, Upper Nile State, where the Rwandan contingent is deployed and operating.
The colourful ceremony was presided over by the UNMISS Police Commissioner, Madam Christine Fossen.
It was also attended by other high profile UN, diplomats and government officials as well as representatives from other contributing countries and South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).
In her remarks, the Police Commissioner, Christine Fossen expressed appreciation to the decorated men and women for their “hard work, discipline, professionalism and commitment to achieve UNMISS mandate” especially during this challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today, we recognise your hard work and sacrifice, your good cooperation with other agencies, your contribution to protection of civilians and ensuring durable peace in South Sudan,” Madam Fossen said.
The Police Commissioner later met the Rwanda FPU-1 commanders, where she was briefed on the contingent operations and other human security activities conducted since it was deployed in South Sudan in April, last year.
Tuganeyesu was identified and arrested by Police officers attached to the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Testing and Licensing (TL), who were supervising the driving tests.
He is one of the candidates, who had successfully registered for driving test ‘Category A’.
The Western region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi said that Tuganeyesu was identified as Police officers were checking his documents.
“Having negative Covid-19 test results is one of the requirements for any candidate to do the driving tests. In the process of checking Tuganeyesu’s documents, Police officers realised that he had edited the RBC (Rwanda Biomedical Centre) message,” SP Karekezi said.
Tuganeyesu had two Sim Cards and had registered one of the contacts in his second phone as RBC. When he sent the edited Covid-19 test results message from one phone to another, it appeared as if it had been sent by RBC.
SP Karekezi said that it is the similar trick that was employed by other people, who have been arrested in the past.
He warned against the criminal practice and advised driving candidates to go for Covid-19 test to save themselves from imprisonment.
Tuganeyesu was handed over to RIB at Gisenyi station for further legal process.
Article 276 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person, who in any manner, forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, or discharged obligations, commits an offence.
Any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The report is dubbed “Rwanda: Wave of Free Speech Prosecutions”.
HRW has been banned on Rwanda’s land four years ago after series of false reports accusing Rwanda of abusing rights of targeted groups of people.
Before halting partnership with HRW in 2018, the organization released a report dubbed ‘All Thieves Must Be Killed “alleging that 37 people were killed by police officers, soldiers, reservists and members of the District Administration Security Support Organ (DASSO) in the districts of Rubavu and Rutsiro.
It was latter established that all aforementioned individuals were alive following the investigation carried out by the National Commission for Human Rights.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has for several times been criticized for making false reports motivated by political reasons.
The recently released report dubbed “Rwanda: Wave of Free Speech Prosecutions” indicates that Rwanda’s Judicial authorities in Rwanda prosecuted opposition members, journalists, and commentators on the basis of their speech and opinions.
In the report, Human Rights Watch cited cases of Dieudonné Niyonsenga – alias Cyuma Hassan, the owner of Ishema TV YouTube channel who was sentenced to seven years after he was found guilty of charges including forgery, impersonation, hindering public works and humiliation of national authorities and persons in charge of public service. The ruling on his appeal is expected on 18th March 2022.
HRW has also raised alarm for Théoneste Nsengimana, the owner of a YouTube channel dubbed Umubavu along with five individuals arrested with him in October last year, majority of whom being members of unlicensed political party dubbed ‘Dalfa Umurinzi’ founded by Victoire Ingabire.
Their cases are being handled by Rwandan courts where the individuals are accused of crimes including spreading of rumours aimed at inciting chaos and protests among the public.
Aimable Karasira, a former lecturer at the University of Rwanda was also arrested in May last year accused of crimes including of Genocide denial and instigating divisions.
He is among individuals appearing on the list HRW is advocating for along with Idamange Iryamugwiza Yvonne who is serving 15-year sentence after she was found guilty of crimes including incitement of public disorder, providing false information using digital means, and trivializing the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch has said that Rwanda should be put on pressure to release these people mentioned in the report.
“As Rwanda prepares to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, scheduled to take place in June, the international community should take a stand and press the authorities to stop harassing, immediately release, and drop all charges against opposition members, YouTube commentators and journalists facing abusive prosecutions that violate freedom of expression,” he said.
Responding to the report via Twitter handle, the Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo has rejected the report noting that it is biased.
“The sustained harassment of Rwanda by Human Rights Watch does nothing more than entrench negative stereotypes about justice and human rights in Africa,” she tweeted.
“The judicial system in Rwanda operates fairly and transparently in compliance with Rwanda’s laws, as well as our regional and international obligations. Everyone is equal before the law and no one is prosecuted for having political opinions,” Makolo added.
In September last year, HRW also released another report accusing Rwanda of abusing rights of transgender people, sex workers and street children.
At the time, Rwanda explained the rep-ort was a calculated attempt to harm a strategic sector of Rwanda’s economy with fabricated allegations.
Lt Gen Muhoozi has been in Rwanda since 14th March 2022. It was his second visit to Rwanda aimed at mending relations between Rwanda and Uganda following the recent one on 22nd January 2022.
At the time, he was received by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro with whom they held discussions on strengthening bilateral ties.
On Tuesday 15th March 2022, Lt Gen Muhoozi visited Kigali Genocide Memorial where he paid homage to victims laid there.
In the afternoon, the management of Kigali Arena revealed that Lt Gen Muhoozi toured Kigali Arena, Rwanda’s hub of sports and entertainment where he explored different facilities including courts and shot hoops.
Rwanda’s Presidency has also revealed that President Kagame hosted Lt Gen Muhoozi at his farm in Eastern Province on Tuesday and gave him long horned cows locally known as ‘Inyambo’.
In Rwandan culture, cows represent a very significant symbol of friendship and are considered part of the best wealth a person can ever possess.
In Rwanda, cows were the only token that would be given for dowry or as a present to a friend. Even today, a cow is still considered the best present one can ever give a beloved one. Be it a wedding, graduation or a birthday party, cow giving makes the occasion more colourful and real.
It is not the first time Kagame gives cows to the family of Museveni.
On 31st July 2011, President Kagame gave cows to his counterpart of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who was on a visit to Rwanda.
At the time, Museveni was joining Rwanda for a community work to build a school for Nine Year Basic Education in Kanombe. Museveni pledged a contribution worth US$300,000 for completion of the school.
Towards the end of the same year, President Paul Kagame who was in Uganda was given 20 cows by Museveni.
The recent donation of cows to Lt Gen Muhoozi is a great symbol evidencing that efforts to restore bilateral ties that had deteriorated in 2017 are yielding good results.
The elections took place at Kigali Serena Hotel in the morning of Wednesday 16th March 2022 where Bafakulera was the sole candidate to the post PSF Chairman.
Andre Bitwayiki a contestant who had expressed interest for the position withdrew his candidature noting that Bafakulera’s experiences exceed his competencies.
Bafakulera is among prominent businesspersons in Rwanda with large investments in tourism and hospitality sector. He owns different hotels including Ubumwe Grand Hotel.
He also has investments in transport as well as trade of rice and cooking oil.
Among others, Jeanne Françoise Mubiligi has been elected as the first vice president of PSF with 73 votes beating her competitor Brian Ngarambe who got 50 votes.
The Chief Executive Officer of PSF, Stephen Ruzibiza has said that leaders ending their tenure have worked hard and supported the country to develop response to difficult times it went through.
The minerals were stolen from the concession owned by Euro-Trade International Ltd (ETI), Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), said.
He added that information was provided by security guards at the concession.
“The Management of ETI have been reporting people, who sneak into their concession to steal minerals, especially at night. On Monday at about 6am, security guards reported a group of people, including Uwiragiye, whom they saw coming out of the concession with minerals,” said SP Ndayisenga.
“An operation was conducted at the home of Uwiragiye where Police officers searched and recovered sacks containing about 140kgs of Wolfram and tools which he was using in illegal mining activities,” he added.
He warned against such illegal activities, which in some cases result into loss of lives.
SP Ndayisenga further called upon the public to share information on people, who engage in such unlawful and dangerous acts.
Article 54 of the law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, states that; any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
Lt Gen Muhoozi came to Rwanda for three-day visit aimed at mending bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries that deteriorated since 2017.
On the first day of his visit to Rwanda on Monday 14th March 2022, Lt Gen Muhoozi was received by Chargé d’Affaires at Uganda’s Embassy in Kigali, Anne Katusiime ; the Commandant of Republican Guard, Brigadier General Willy Rwagasana and the Spokesperson of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Col Ronald Rwivanga upon arrival at Kigali International Airport.
He was received by President Paul Kagame on the same day. On the second day, Lt Gen Muhoozi who is also the first born son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni visited Kigali Genocide Memorial where he paid homage to victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi laid there and other facilities including Kigali Arena.
In Rwandan culture, cows represent a very significant symbol of friendship and are considered part of the best wealth a person can ever possess.
In Rwanda, cows were the only token that would be given for dowry or as a present to a friend. Even today, a cow is still considered the best present one can ever give a beloved one. Be it a wedding, graduation or a birthday party, cow giving makes the occasion more colourful and real.
It is not the first time Kagame gives cows to the family of Museveni.
On 31st July 2011, President Kagame gave cows to his counterpart of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who was on a visit to Rwanda.
At the time, Museveni was joining Rwanda for a community work to build a school for Nine Year Basic Education in Kanombe. Museveni pledged a contribution worth US$300,000 for completion of the school.
Towards the end of the same year, President Paul Kagame who was in Uganda was given 20 cows by Museveni.
The recent donation of cows to Lt Gen Muhoozi is a great symbol evidencing that efforts to restore bilateral ties to normal are yielding good results.
Lt Gen Muhoozi was last in Rwanda on 22nd January 2022 for talks with President Kagame.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
Gatuna border was also closed in 2019 following Rwanda’s concerns over Uganda’s support to dissidents intending to threaten its security and series of arrests of Rwandans incarcerated illegally in the country.
Political analysts say that recent discussions with President Kagame have bore fruits leading to a step further towards restoring relations to normal.
Following the visit, Rwanda announced that Gatuna border connecting the country to Uganda would reopen effective from 31st January 2022 following the country’s willingness to address issues raised by Rwanda.
The move was followed by the reopening of all land borders on 7th March 2022.
Passengers crossing to Uganda are required to present different travel documents including Passport and Laissez – Passer.
The country has also requested passengers living far from the borders to present negative COVID-19 PCR Test Results. However, residents nearby the borders with Uganda are allowed to present Rapid Test.
Rwanda started the deployment of 1000 troops of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Rwanda National Police (RNP) to Mozambique on 9th July 2021, to fight rebel groups, honoring the request of Mozambique. The troops had increased to nearly 2000 by the end of the year 2021.
The situation in the country worsened since October 2017 when armed extremists launched an insurgency in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique.
Mozambique Defence Armed Forces battled the extremists but many civilians were killed and displaced by the fighting.
Before Rwandan troop’s intervention, terrorists had killed 3000 civilians while more than 800,000 were displaced. The insecurity had also put to halt all development projects in the area controlled by insurgents.
The joint operations between Rwandan and Mozambican troops yielded big where different regions including Palma, Awasse, Mocímboa Da Praia, Quionga, Tete, Maputo, Nhica Do Rovuma, Quelimane, Chinda and Mumu were seized from rebels.
As of 5th September 2021, Rwandan and Mozambican troops who were joined by the military mission of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had captured almost all areas of Cabo Delgado Province where the remaining work was predominantly about launching offensives to quell enemy pockets from their hideouts and help displaced citizens to return to their homes.
IGIHE has caught up with the Spokesperson of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Col Ronald Rwivanga who shed light on current progress as well as cooperation with Mozambicans and SADC forces deployed in Mozambique.
{{Excerpts: }}
{{Rwandan soldiers have spent nearly seven months fighting insurgents in Mozambique, briefly tell us what were initial expectations and how do you gauge the work done so far? }}
RDF expected a lot more resistance than we got….but it was still a tough job to fight terrorists who had captured cities and dislodged state authority in Cabo Delgado.
{{Peace has been restored in most regions that were previously occupied by insurgents. Aren’t you worried that rebels might maneuver through their hideouts to threaten security again? }}
Not at all. The RDF and Mozambican forces must maintain security operations to deny enemy freedom of action and maneuver. That’s what will keep the terrorist at bay.
{{There are some areas where peace has not yet been restored. Are you planning more offensive operations?}}
If an area is not in our Area of Responsibility (AOR), we are not mandated to conduct offensive operations there unless new directives emerge. So, our response will depend on whether or not we are mandated to operate in a given sector.
{{How do Rwandans cooperate with SADC troops deployed in Cabo Delgado? }}
Rwandans or RDF cooperates well with SADC/ SAMIM in terms of sharing Intelligence and operational leads. This is what we have established and it is going on well. They visit RDF MOZ sectors for meetings and vice versa. And the close cooperation has had good results.
{{It is said that RDF recently launched offensives to terrorists in collaboration with FADM and SAMIN. Is it true?}}
The most recent operation in west Palma district was in our AOR with FADM forces and not in SAMIM sector. So, there was no expected support from SADC /SAMIM forces. However, we share intelligence and leads wherever we operate so that if the terrorists cross into their sectors, they can be able to respond effectively. So it’s more of intelligence sharing, close collaboration and coordination than physical support in our respective sectors.
{{Has RDF ever faced challenges while working with SAMIM forces? If yes, which ones?}}
No.
{{Do you consider the rotation of soldiers deployed to Mozambique as the case for peacekeeping missions? }}
No, it is a bilateral arrangement and has nothing to do with peace keeping rotations.
{{Apart from operations to restore peace in Cabo Delgabo Province, RDF plans to train Mozambican soldiers. When shall training programs begin? }}
We are still streamlining details on what will be done.
