Let’s start afresh says Kagame
RWANDA President Paul Kagame has said his country and Uganda should forget their bitter past and build stronger ties for the sake of development.
By Eddie Ssejjoba
RWANDA President Paul Kagame has said his country and Uganda should forget their bitter past and build stronger ties for the sake of development.
Kagame, receiving the credentials of Uganda’s new ambassador to Rwanda, Richard Tumusiime Kabonero, said whatever happened in the past and the tension that existed between the two governments, should be forgotten. He said both countries had historical links beyond bilateral and commercial relations.
Kagame, who was in a jovial mood, received Kabonero’s credentials at his office in Kigali on Monday. Kabonero has replaced Adonia Ayebare, now the deputy envoy in Washington in charge of New York. He was accompanied by the first secretary, Arthur Kasigazi, and the second secretary, John Magoba.
Kabonero was received by foreign affairs minister Charles Murigande, ambassador Amri Sued, the adviser on foreign affairs and Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura.
After the ceremony, Kabonero addressed the press at Hotel Mille Collines where he explained details of his discussions with Kagame. Kabonero said Kagame invited him back for a longer discussion on how quickly they can work on normalizing relations between the two countries.
“He received me happily and said he was hopeful that I will be available to work with him in what he termed as a new era. He asked Uganda to forget whatever happened between the two countries and end the tension that existed,†Kabonero said.
Asked to elaborate on what Kagame meant with the tension and whatever happened in the past, Kasigazi said it was common knowledge that Kigali and Kampala had been on high tension during the Kisangani I, II and III when their two countries clashed in Congo and the border standoffs.
“The president said our relationship is historical and not like any other country, and asked me to enhance that relationship now,†Kasigazi said.
He said Kagame was happy that he had finally got a new ambassador after a long wait of six months, and asked Kabonero to settle quickly and start serious work.
Kabonero is also in charge of Burundi.
Kagame also asked Kabonero to extend his congratulatory message for the second time to President Museveni upon his re-election.
“I commended him for the strides Rwanda had made in development and the economy,†he said.
RWANDA President Paul Kagame has said his country and Uganda should forget their bitter past and build stronger ties for the sake of development.
Kagame, receiving the credentials of Uganda’s new ambassador to Rwanda, Richard Tumusiime Kabonero, said whatever happened in the past and the tension that existed between the two governments, should be forgotten. He said both countries had historical links beyond bilateral and commercial relations.
Kagame, who was in a jovial mood, received Kabonero’s credentials at his office in Kigali on Monday. Kabonero has replaced Adonia Ayebare, now the deputy envoy in Washington in charge of New York. He was accompanied by the first secretary, Arthur Kasigazi, and the second secretary, John Magoba.
Kabonero was received by foreign affairs minister Charles Murigande, ambassador Amri Sued, the adviser on foreign affairs and Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura.
After the ceremony, Kabonero addressed the press at Hotel Mille Collines where he explained details of his discussions with Kagame. Kabonero said Kagame invited him back for a longer discussion on how quickly they can work on normalizing relations between the two countries.
“He received me happily and said he was hopeful that I will be available to work with him in what he termed as a new era. He asked Uganda to forget whatever happened between the two countries and end the tension that existed,†Kabonero said.
Asked to elaborate on what Kagame meant with the tension and whatever happened in the past, Kasigazi said it was common knowledge that Kigali and Kampala had been on high tension during the Kisangani I, II and III when their two countries clashed in Congo and the border standoffs.
“The president said our relationship is historical and not like any other country, and asked me to enhance that relationship now,†Kasigazi said.
He said Kagame was happy that he had finally got a new ambassador after a long wait of six months, and asked Kabonero to settle quickly and start serious work.
Kabonero is also in charge of Burundi.
Kagame also asked Kabonero to extend his congratulatory message for the second time to President Museveni upon his re-election.
“I commended him for the strides Rwanda had made in development and the economy,†he said.