Uganda rejects Rwanda account
UGANDA has rejected an explanation by Rwanda that part of President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy was blocked at Katuna because the Ugandan soldiers carried extra guns across the border.
By Felix Osike
UGANDA has rejected an explanation by Rwanda that part of President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy was blocked at Katuna because the Ugandan soldiers carried extra guns across the border.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa, said, “There were no extra guns beyond the ones agreed upon by the two sides that were brought into Rwanda.â€
More than half of Museveni's convoy was on Thursday blocked at the border post and some Ugandan delegates harassed at InterContinental Hotel in Kigali, the venue of the 10th COMESA summit. The President was travelling to Kigali by road to handover the COMESA chairmanship to President Paul Kagame.
Rwanda’s state minister for foreign affairs Mitali Protais told Sunday Vision that Uganda was informed that only six Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) soldiers with six pistols would be allowed into Rwanda.
“The incident was about arms. Before President Museveni’s delegation came, they were informed that we would allow only six escorts with six pistols. We sent them a note and they accepted. The correspondence is there. But they came with so many SMGs and the security officials at the border asked them to enter with only pistols,†Protais said.
But Kutesa said the only issue raised by the Rwandan security was the number of vehicles and identity of the delegates.
Below is Kutesa’s full statement.
“The Statement by a Rwandese minister, Protais Mitali, about the incident of holding part of President Museveni's convoy is false. There were no extra guns, beyond the ones agreed upon by the two sides that were brought into Rwanda. The issues the Rwandese soldiers insisted on were that the vehicles were too many (16 in number) and that the identities of the Ugandan delegation members were not known.
“Yet the previous day, on Wednesday, June 1, 2005, the PGB had taken the full list of those vehicles to the Rwanda Customs, which had raised no objection and stamped the relevant documents. These documents are available.
“What happened at the border was the sole responsibility of the Rwandese officials involved. If there had been extra guns, why could they not be left on the border for later collection and allow the vehicles to continue? The guns could even have been returned to Uganda - it is only 200 metres away. Then the vehicles would have continued without the guns. Bodyguards normally travel with guns even in commercial airlines. You surrender the guns to the pilots. They, then, give them to you on arrival.
“However, as a matter of fact, there were no extra guns. If the vehicles were “too manyâ€, why couldn’t the Rwandese officials accept the idea that the personnel squeeze in fewer vehicles but proceed to the meeting? This idea was given to them; but they rejected it.
“While the Uganda Government does not want to be distracted by such a silly and infantile incident; we cannot accept lies being told about our officials. That is why we handled the issue through diplomatic channels. We were, therefore, surprised to see the Rwandese minister complicating matters further by giving false information to the press.
“Since Uganda has had to combat terrorism, we always take serious precautions. That is why certain measures, like many vehicles become necessary. President Museveni did not have to go to Rwanda if there were issues the Rwandese authorities did not approve of. He would have delegated. In fact, he had to skip the World Economic Forum Meeting in Cape Town for the COMESA meeting. This is for the information of the public. We can assure the Rwandese Government that when their officials come here, we shall show them the customary hospitality and courtesies due to guests.â€
Kagame is expected in the country today for an agricultural conference.
Presidency minister Dr. Beatrice Wabudeya, who was also going to Kigali to represent First Lady Janet Museveni for the 2nd COMESA First Ladies Roundtable, was also held up for three hours.
Ends
UGANDA has rejected an explanation by Rwanda that part of President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy was blocked at Katuna because the Ugandan soldiers carried extra guns across the border.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa, said, “There were no extra guns beyond the ones agreed upon by the two sides that were brought into Rwanda.â€
More than half of Museveni's convoy was on Thursday blocked at the border post and some Ugandan delegates harassed at InterContinental Hotel in Kigali, the venue of the 10th COMESA summit. The President was travelling to Kigali by road to handover the COMESA chairmanship to President Paul Kagame.
Rwanda’s state minister for foreign affairs Mitali Protais told Sunday Vision that Uganda was informed that only six Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) soldiers with six pistols would be allowed into Rwanda.
“The incident was about arms. Before President Museveni’s delegation came, they were informed that we would allow only six escorts with six pistols. We sent them a note and they accepted. The correspondence is there. But they came with so many SMGs and the security officials at the border asked them to enter with only pistols,†Protais said.
But Kutesa said the only issue raised by the Rwandan security was the number of vehicles and identity of the delegates.
Below is Kutesa’s full statement.
“The Statement by a Rwandese minister, Protais Mitali, about the incident of holding part of President Museveni's convoy is false. There were no extra guns, beyond the ones agreed upon by the two sides that were brought into Rwanda. The issues the Rwandese soldiers insisted on were that the vehicles were too many (16 in number) and that the identities of the Ugandan delegation members were not known.
“Yet the previous day, on Wednesday, June 1, 2005, the PGB had taken the full list of those vehicles to the Rwanda Customs, which had raised no objection and stamped the relevant documents. These documents are available.
“What happened at the border was the sole responsibility of the Rwandese officials involved. If there had been extra guns, why could they not be left on the border for later collection and allow the vehicles to continue? The guns could even have been returned to Uganda - it is only 200 metres away. Then the vehicles would have continued without the guns. Bodyguards normally travel with guns even in commercial airlines. You surrender the guns to the pilots. They, then, give them to you on arrival.
“However, as a matter of fact, there were no extra guns. If the vehicles were “too manyâ€, why couldn’t the Rwandese officials accept the idea that the personnel squeeze in fewer vehicles but proceed to the meeting? This idea was given to them; but they rejected it.
“While the Uganda Government does not want to be distracted by such a silly and infantile incident; we cannot accept lies being told about our officials. That is why we handled the issue through diplomatic channels. We were, therefore, surprised to see the Rwandese minister complicating matters further by giving false information to the press.
“Since Uganda has had to combat terrorism, we always take serious precautions. That is why certain measures, like many vehicles become necessary. President Museveni did not have to go to Rwanda if there were issues the Rwandese authorities did not approve of. He would have delegated. In fact, he had to skip the World Economic Forum Meeting in Cape Town for the COMESA meeting. This is for the information of the public. We can assure the Rwandese Government that when their officials come here, we shall show them the customary hospitality and courtesies due to guests.â€
Kagame is expected in the country today for an agricultural conference.
Presidency minister Dr. Beatrice Wabudeya, who was also going to Kigali to represent First Lady Janet Museveni for the 2nd COMESA First Ladies Roundtable, was also held up for three hours.
Ends