Kagame: Only Museveni Can Stop Rwanda-Uganda Crisis; Roads to bypass Kigali won’t help

President Paul Kagame has said that the power to end the standoff between Rwanda and Uganda lies with President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, his government and security forces.

The Rwanda-Uganda crisis has persisted for over two years with both Kigali and Kampala accusing each other of facilitating illegal activities against the other.

For example, Kagame’s Rwanda claims Museveni and his government support rebels seeking to destabilize the country and topple the sitting government.

Kigali also alleges that Kampala has made it a habit to use her security agencies to arrest, illegally detain and torture Rwandans.

On the other hand Museveni’s government accuses Rwanda of sending her citizens to spy on Kampala with the broader aim of disturbing peace and stability in the pearl of Africa.

The peak of the Kigali-Kampala was March 2019 when Rwanda closed her border point of Katuna (Gatuna).

Efforts by regional countries such as Angola and DR Congo to broker reconciliation between the two brotherly-turned-botherly countries are yet to yield fruit.

And the accusations and arrests continue in both Kigali and Kampala.

Last week, Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) arrested Victoria University vice chancellor Dr Lawrence Muganga over claims that he was spying on Kampala for Kigali.

In a recent interview with state-controlled Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), Kagame said Museveni still had an opportunity to end the standoff by doing what he has committed to do to restore relations between the two neighboring countries.

“We have talked to the leadership of Uganda and they denied or said that they don’t know. They say they are following up, but now it is many years,” said Kagame.

“What we decided to do is to do no harm to Ugandans or any other foreigners due to the actions of their government against our people.”

He insisted Kigali was innocent and relations would be restored if Kampala played her part.

“This problem will not end from us,” he announced.

“The solution will have to come from those doing these acts.”

He also laughed off attempts by Uganda to bypass Rwanda by putting in place roads to connect to Burundi via Tanzania.

“Now you hear that there are roads being constructed from Uganda going through Tanzania to Burundi with the intention of bypassing Rwanda and cause it problems,” he said.