By NANGAYI GUYSON

Kampala, Uganda - On Saturday, January 22, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) Commander of Land Forces, Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations, and son of President Yoweri Museveni, traveled to Rwanda to meet with President Paul Kagame in Kigali to resolve long-standing misunderstandings between the two sister countries.

Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, dressed in a Tuxedo Light Blue Suit, Burgundy Polka Dots Skinny Red Tie, N95 face mask, and Melton Cap Toe Black Calfskin shoes, appeared peaceful, joyful, and tranquil with his bald head and Channel O round beard cut style.

He was received at Village Urugwiro by the Rwandan President Paul Kagame who also seemed happy and welcomed him as if President Museveni had made a right choice by sending his son for a dialogue.

The two talked on the initiatives that need to be taken to mend Rwanda-Uganda ties.

Kagame and Muhoozi, "had courteous, productive, and forward-looking discussions regarding Rwanda's concerns and practical initiatives needed to rebuild the relationship between Rwanda and Uganda," according to Village Urugwiro.

Muhoozi tweeted shortly after his return home that the two had "extremely courteous and in-depth discussions about how to enhance bilateral relations."

He expressed optimism that "under the leadership of our two Presidents, we will be able to quickly restore our historic good relations."

Muhoozi's visit came after that of Amb Adonia Ayebare, who was in Kigali to deliver President Museveni's special message.

Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), remarked after returning to Kampala from a successful mission to Kigali that they had a depth talk with president Kagame.

"We had a very pleasant and in-depth talk about how to strengthen our bilateral relations," she said.

"I am optimistic that under the leadership of our two Presidents, we will be able to quickly repair our long-standing strong ties," Muhoozi added.

He also brought a Ugandan Special Forces (SFC) soldier who had been kidnapped by Rwanda back with him.

"I also want to express my gratitude to President Kagame for granting my plea to release our SFC soldier, Private Ronald Arinda, who crossed into Rwandan territory without permission on personal business.

I flew back to Uganda with him tonight. "Long live the two countries' friendship," Muhoozi remarked.

 

Rwanda also released a statement about the same and part of it reads as follow;

"President Kagame and General Muhoozi had friendly, productive, and forward-looking discussions regarding Rwanda's concerns and practical initiatives needed to rebuild the relationship between Rwanda and Uganda," Rwanda stated in a statement.

The visit comes just days after Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, delivered a special message to Kigali as part of ongoing efforts to improve relations with Rwanda.

After exchanging charges of eavesdropping, political murder, and meddling, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni struck an accord in Angola two years ago to defuse tensions.

After a three-year lockdown, Rwanda announced Friday that it will restore its land border with Uganda at the end of the month, signaling a breakthrough in tense relations between the neighbors.

The action comes after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's powerful son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, visited Kigali last weekend and offered to reestablish ties with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

In February 2019, the border was closed because to escalating political tensions between Kigali and Kampala, which harmed two-way trade.

The current move by Uganda to adhere to Rwanda’s demands is raising questions to whether General Muhoozi Kainerugaba can mend the broken relation between the two countries for all.

There are good signs that indicate that General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is doing perfectly well on this role assigned to him by his father President Museveni.

To show Rwanda that Uganda was reread to mend the relationship, President Museveni made changes to his military intelligence in Kampala, by demoting Maj-Gen Abel Kandiho who was the face of torture in Rwandans' eyes to a lowly military attaché post in South Sudan.

Both countries are led by army veterans, one of whom prevented the Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 and the other of whom came to power after defeating Milton Obote and his Uganda National Liberation Army in 1986.

However, while they share a history dating back to the war years, their ties have been sour, impacting road transit and trade.

Despite the fact that their capitals are only 500 kilometers apart, people must now fly between them due to the closure of border crossings.

Muhoozi's trip to Kigali, on the other hand, was partly motivated by the prospect of rekindling old friendships.

Rwanda closed the border crossing in February 2019 after accusing Uganda of assisting rebel groups in an attempt to destabilize Rwanda while, Uganda  accused Rwanda's government of spying.

According to the Rwandan statement, the government has taken note of a procedure to resolve issues presented by Rwanda, as well as Ugandan government commitments to remove remaining hurdles.

The Gatuna border station will reopen Monday, according to the Rwanda Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following a visit by Ugandan Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni's son, last week.

The closure of the Gatuna-Katuna crossing put Rwandan and Ugandan citizens doing business over the border in a financial bind.

Rwanda's declaration on Friday that it will restore its border after a three-year closure was hailed by Ugandan traders.