According to the Presidential Press Unit, the Rwandan leader who is new African Union (AU) Chairman, was in the country on a one-day day working visit to brief President Museveni on the recent AU Summit in Kigali that resulted in the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area by 44 AU member countries paving the way for the creation of one African market.

Presidents Kagame, Museveni hold bilateral talks. Internet Photo

The other areas that the two Heads of State discussed included the railway line works, electricity supply, airline operations and security between the two countries and the region.

Addressing a joint news conference by the two leaders, President Museveni stressed the need for close cooperation between intelligence services of different countries in order to get facts and secure the region. He said that there was no fundamental conflict between Rwanda and Uganda adding that security agencies of the two countries must cooperate, make use of technology to solve security matters.

“A girl was recently kidnapped and killed and the suspect was in South Africa. I personally called President Ramaphosa and action was taken. People and countries involved in such matters, must work closely,” he said.

Mr. Museveni also said that it was beneficial for Rwanda and Uganda to cooperate in other areas like trade and infrastructural development as a way of fostering Uganda-Rwanda relations.

“Rwanda has gas; we have iron ores. Why should we import steel from Singapore? The Ministry of Planning should consider developing such a project with Rwanda,” he remarked.

Regarding the situation in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where an influx of refugees from there have come mostly to Uganda,  President Kagame, said that the solution was for the DRC to cooperate with the United Nations that has been in the DRC for decades.

“DRC is a big concern to everyone starting with the neighbours particularly Uganda. What we are seeing today is a regional, continental and an international matter. This was part of our discussion with President Museveni to see how best to help. The UN has been there for decades but we see no results,” he said.

On allegations that Ugandans in Rwanda were losing job contracts, President Kagame said the concerned institutions in both countries should get to the bottom of the matter because some issues were reported out of context.

VIDEO: Museveni and Kagame full press conference at state house – Entebbe

ALSO READ: President Museveni urges security agencies to work together

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Rwandans lining up to attend the parliamentary debate on term limits. Photo Credit: The New Times

3.7 million Rwandans on Tuesday chose to remove the two-term presidential limit in a signed petition to parliament supporting a constitutional change. This will allow President Paul Kagame a third term run in 2017. Hundreds of Rwandans turned up at the Parliamentary Building to follow the long-awaited debate on the presidential term limits according to The New Times. 

Mr Kagame who is currently serving his second and last seven-year term in office, has always said it is up to the Rwandan people to decide. He has served as Rwandan President since April 2000 during the transitional period, before winning the country’s first ever democratic election in 2013 and re-election in 2010.

Kagame’s supporters credit him for, among others, leading the struggle to stop the 1994 Genocide and setting the country on a path to sustainable development. Nkusi Juvenal, a member of parliament for the Social Democratic Party (PSD) said “3.7 million Rwandans have spoken, we have no option but to listen to their pleas.”

The president of Rwanda’s main opposition Democratic Green Party, Frank Habineza, stated his disappointment with parliament’s vote on the constitutional amendment. “We are very disappointed today because we don’t see any reason why the parliament rush[ed] into such a discussion because they know very well that the Supreme Court is set to hear our case on the 29^th of July which is just two weeks away,” he said.

Interview with Frank Habineza from Voice of America

The Democratic Green Party had gone to the Supreme Court to ask the court to stop parliament from changing the constitution, and to give a deeper understanding of Article 101 and 193. However, they were still finding a lawyer to represent them.

Third term talks have recently caused violence in neighbouring Burundi while Uganda voted out the two-term limit ten years ago.

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Lt. Gen. Fred Ibingira, the chief of staff of the Reserve Forces, Brig. Gen. Richard Rutatina, the military intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wilson Gumisiriza, commander of the Rwanda Defence Forces 3rd Division, and Col. Dan Munyuza, head of external intelligence, were placed under confinement on January 18 this year. President Kagame toldUgandajournalists that the officers were arrested over indiscipline. 

Kagame did not disclose what acts of indiscipline his military officers were involved in. However the accused army generals have told our informers in Kigali that none of them has ever participated in wrong dealings. The generals have also denied intelligent reports that they were secretly working to over throw the government inKigali.

By Walakira Nyanzi

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However many people in Uganda and across the country have asked Museveni where he did not recognize his rival Col. Kiiza Besigye. Besigye was President Museveni’s personal doctor during the bush war.

 Kagame would receive his medal during celebrations to mark the 26th National Resistance Movement’s anniversary in Kapchorwa District. The venue for the event is Sebei College Sports Grounds.

 Kagame will receive two medals: the Pearl of Africa medal and the Luweero Triangle medal. This is because Kagame was among the original 27 fighters Museveni started the war with. Museveni and his guerillas topped the government of Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa on January 26^th 1986.

The theme of this year’s NRM cerebration is ‘Uganda, theLand ofOpportunities: NRM’s Contribution during the Last Half of the 50 Years ofUganda’sIndependence.”

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