KAMPALA – Ugandan and Angolan officials were stunned last Friday after the Rwandan team demanded that President Museveni fires his top security chiefs, including Brig Abel Kandiho and Col Kaka Bagyenda, as part of the conditions for normalizing relations between the two countries.
Uganda and Rwanda officials last Friday met in Kigali in fulfillment of the Luanda protocol that aims at normalizing tensions between the two countries. The meeting was also in preparation of the border meeting between President Museveni and his Rwanda counterpart Paul Kagame that is expected this Friday at Katuna/Gatuna border.
Uganda was represented by Minister Kutesa, Minister Jeje Odongo (Internal Affairs), Attorney General William Byaruhanga, Director General of External Security Organisation Joseph Ocwet, High Commissioner of Uganda to Rwanda Oliver Wonekha, Col. Paddy Ankunda from the Ministry of Defense and Patrick Mugoya, Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Affairs ministry.
Rwanda was represented by ministers Nduhugirehe, Johnston Busingye (Justice and Attorney General), Prof. Shyaka Anastate (Local Government), Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba (Internal Security), High Commissioner of Rwanda to Uganda Gen. Frank Mugambage, Director General of External Intelligence in the National Intelligence and Security Service Col. [rtd] Anaclet Kalibata, Principal Private Secretary to the President Col. Patrick Karuretwa.
There were also representatives from DR Congo and Angola.
While presenting the demands during a meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, last week, the Rwandan Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, while reading a statement, said Uganda must “refrain from all actions intended to destabilize Rwanda; eliminate all factors that create such perception; withdraw the passport issued by Ugandan government to RNC’s head of diplomacy, Charlotte Mukankusi and prevent her from traveling to Uganda.”
“Kigali demands action be taken by Uganda, including disbanding” RNC (Rwanda National Congress), RUD-Uranana and arrest and extradite all its members to face justice in Rwanda,” he said.
RNC is led by exiled former Rwandan army chief, Gen Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa while RUD-Urunana is a splinter group of FDLR, a militia whose leadership is accused of committing the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Nduhungirehe also demanded that Uganda fires State Minister for Regional Cooperation Philemon Mateke, CMI boss Brigadier Abel Kandiho, Internal Security Organisation (ISO) boss Col Kaka Bagyenda, 2nd Division Deputy Commander Brig Fred Karara, CMI Deputy Director in charge of Counter Terrorism Col Charles Asiimwe and Maj Fred Mushambo, whom he said are facilitating the work of RNC.
He claimed that the above mentioned Ugandan officials have been holding meetings with Rwandan rebels in Mbarara, western Uganda and recruiting fighters in refugee camps.
However, the new demand of firing of Ugandan security chiefs is said to have ruffled feathers among senior diplomats, especially from Angola, who said this had not originally been part of the demand.
Their Ugandan counterparts, nevertheless, kept calm and promised to address some of the demands. The two sides agreed to fulfill six conditions that will end hostility between the countries and eventually reopen the border.
According to a joint statement released by both governments, number one on the list of resolutions is finding out how many nationals of either nation are detained in each other’s prisons.
“Both parties committed to further verify the number and the status of nationals of either party detained in each other’s country and to report back through a Note Verbale in a three-weeks time,” reads the statement that was signed of by Mr Kutesa and Mr Nduhungirehe.
Secondly, both nations are to protect and respect the human rights of nationals of either party.
It was also agreed that Kigali and Kampala finalize the Extradition Treaty. Extradition is the formal process of one state surrendering an individual to another state for prosecution or punishment for crimes committed in the requesting country’s jurisdiction.
This will be signed in presence of Presidents Museveni and Kagame (Rwanda) at the fourth Quadripartite Summit that will be held in Gatuna/Katuna on February 21.
