I find it hard to believe Maj Rutaremara’s dismissal of Bantariza’s statements as baseless!

Nov 25, 2002

SIR— I wish to react to Rwanda Defence Forces spokesman Maj Jill Rutaremara in The New Vision of November 23, in the letter “Bantariza should not drag Rwanda into Uganda’s internal affairs!”.

SIR— I wish to react to Rwanda Defence Forces spokesman Maj Jill Rutaremara in The New Vision of November 23, in the letter “Bantariza should not drag Rwanda into Uganda’s internal affairs!”.
I am a Congolese refugee in Uganda. I come from North Kivu province which borders western Uganda three months ago. Before I came to Uganda, there were people in Rutchuru Zone moving with RCD Goma forces, speaking Kiganda, Kinyankole and Ugandan Kiswahili. Were they Congolese? Around Lake Edward, the same people are common where Rwanda had forces (and still has), disguised as RCD Goma. If Uganda cares, it could get international observers to prove me right by sending them there to check on these people.
Many RPA troops and Kyakabale’s forces in North Kivu move along DRC Uganda border disguised as RCD Goma. To tell Bantariza to focus on ADF and LRA is diversionary. I think Uganda should not take the issue of Kyakabale and Kizza Besigye forces destabilising Uganda from North Kivu lightly.

Kahindo Mboromoya
Kampala
SIR— I refer to the letter last Saturday titled “Maj Bantariza should not drag Rwanda into Uganda’s internal affairs!” by one Maj Jill Rutaremara of Rwanda Defence Forces. I would like to point out to Rutaremara that to the best of my knowledge, there are principles agreed between the two countries in handling state related matters, mechanisms already in place through which situations are researched and certified.
Eee! Maj Rutaremara, get it from me: fire from a neighbour’s hut can easily burn yours.
So when he dismisses Bantariza’s findings as baseless, misleading, hostile and self-defeating, I wonder if he has not missed a step on information.
Uganda is open-minded. Why not wisely live by the saying “no investigation, no right to talk.”
Uganda has interest in creating a good political and militarily atmosphere with Rwanda.
The involvement of the Uganda government in ideas that can undermine the credibility of the Rwandan government is not in Uganda’s agenda because we all know that Rwanda has gone through proven tragedies.
Much as Maj Rutaremara denies that Lt Col Anthony Kyakabale and Col Samson Mande are re-organising and training rebels, the fact still remains that their presence in Rwanda and the sluggish process of their relocation leaves a lot to be desired. Uganda is democratic and enjoys a lot of freedom of expression. Therefore, whether Maj Bantariza contradicts President Museveni or not, the truth is that his information network has not missed any detail and it should not just disregarded.

Theo Gasinzi
Kampala

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