President Kagame has made the remarks today during his visit to Burera district, Northern Province, where he heard citizens’ concerns and exchange ideas about how to move the country forward.
Burera borders with the Republic of Uganda.
He explained that there is a problem of neighbors who have been on alert to cause problems to Rwanda noting that its citizens have to protect it.
The speech has been delivered at a time when residents of Burera at times seek some services in Uganda.
“We are not slaves of neighbors. Rwanda is not a small country or small people that can be dictated to, but leaders cause problems when they are not watchful. Most of what you go to seek outside the border, even markets, are left here. But leaders go and live in towns, the capital city and think the world ends there,” he said.
President Kagame revealed that someone told him that they cross the border to seek bread and wondered why manufacturers don’t make bread within the district or supply them.
He also talked on children crossing the border to get medical services yet they are available in Rwanda.
During the recent leadership retreat, President Kagame talked about children crossing to get circumcision from Uganda yet some of the techniques to do it was emulated from Rwanda.
Kagame has however said that when leaders don’t bring things to normal “It results in problems. We are going to fix that. Let those neighbors who want to cause trouble in our country forget that and let us focus on developing ourselves. When they are ready to work with us, we will be here and ready. What we want is to be good neighbors who trade and work well with each other.”
“When you turned us into a garden in which you grow desired crops, we also have expectations. I hope citizens are hearing me. Leaders must understand it. It has been long for us to transform mindsets and country’s politics to current developments” he added.
Kagame said the policy is having Rwandans working together, leaving no one behind and that whatever stands in that road should not be tolerated.
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