President Yoweri Museveni and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta met on Monday and ‘held bilateral talks.’
Earlier in the day, Kenyatta visited Rwanda where he also held bilateral talks with Paul Kagame at the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) Combat Training Center in Gabiro.
In a 41-worded statement, Museveni’s press team said, “President Yoweri Museveni and his counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya have today held a bilateral meeting at State House in Entebbe. President Uhuru was in Uganda for a brief working visit. The two leaders discussed various local and regional issues.”
No more details were divulged but a source privy to the meeting said Kenyatta, 57, has taken it upon himself to try and pacify growing tension between Kigali and Kampala which started about two weeks ago.
Rwanda then closed its borders to Uganda and advised her nationals against travelling to Uganda.
The excuse then was that Uganda was harassing, arresting and deporting Rwandan nationals. Rwanda also accuses Uganda of supporting rebels of the Rwanda National Congress led by Lt Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa.
Nyamwasa is a former ally of Kagame.
Kampala denies the accusations.
Last week, Museveni, 74, in a direct message to Rwanda, said; “Uganda is now stable and I have said before that those who try to destabilise our country do not know our capacity. It is big. Once we mobilise, you cannot survive if you are a trouble-maker.”
Kagame, 61,not to seem intimidated responded with, “When I hear somebody say ‘no one can destabilise our country,’ I agree. No one should actually be destabilising that country, but that country should also not be destabilising others. I think it is fair deal, isn’t? Yes, it is a fair statement that when you’re another country no-one can destabilise your country, I agree with it 100 per cent. But in the same breadth, why should you be the one to destabilize other countries.”
“This kind of tension is what could have led to Kenyatta’s impromptu back to back meetings with Kagame and Museveni,” the source told WatchdogUganda.”
In Rwanda, Kenyatta reportedly adressed local leaders, saying the relationship between Nairobi and Kigali is probably one of the best relations that we have, as Kenya.
Kenyatta added, “We are very proud of the manner in which Rwanda has turned around, from a country that was heavily, heavily hit, especially during the Genocide period, a country that was on its knees, to one of the brightest stars on the African continent in a very short space of time.”
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