Kagame joins Ugandans in Kigali to mark 50 years

Oct 07, 2012

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has said that there is no reason whatsoever why Rwanda and Uganda cannot work together.

By Eddie Ssejjoba   

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has said that there is no reason whatsoever why Rwanda and Uganda cannot work together.

He said the two countries ought to move together through the challenges ahead in the next 50 years, adding that regional integration is something the two nations should continue to pursue.

truePaul Kagame enjoys  himself at Uganda's 50th Independence anniversary celebrations at Serena Hotel in Kigali. Photo: Eddie Ssejjoba

Kagame made the remarks at the Uganda’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations of Ugandans living in Rwanda.

The function took place at Serena Hotel in Kigali on Saturday where the President was invited by the association of Ugandans living in Rwanda.  

At the occasion, the New Vision managing director, Robert Kabushenga donated to the President a book entitled, ‘Uganda: Building of a nation’ published by Vision Group.

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Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga hands over a  book titled: ‘Uganda: Building of a nation’  to President Kagame. PHOTO: Eddie Ssejjoba

“And the reality is beginning to happen, the movement of Ugandans to Rwanda and Rwandans to Uganda is shooting up every day and that is how it should be, and that is how it should have been in the first place,” Kagame explained.

“We want to encourage it to the extent that our people should take it for granted,” he added.
 

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Ugandans party away with President Paul Kagame at Uganda's 50th Independence anniversary celebrations at Serena Hotel in Kigali. PHOTO: Eddie Ssejjoba

 Kagame who is scheduled to join Uganda’s 50th Independence celebrations at Kololo on October 9th said that joining Ugandans in Rwanda and attending the national celebrations in Kampala ‘indicates that we have started the journey for the next 50 years’.

 “There are many lessons and experiences we can pick from each other by following the famous saying that United we stand, divided we fall, but we don’t want to fall,” the President said.

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President Kagame looks through the book titled, ‘Uganda: Building of a nation’. The book was published by Vision Group. PHOTO: Eddie Ssejjoba

Kagame said Rwanda recently celebrated her 50th anniversary as well as many African countries because they got independence almost at the same time.

“But the question is; 50 years on, what lessons have we learnt and what does the future hold for you as Ugandans, which was the same question  for Rwandans a few months ago,” he remarked.

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Richard Kabonero, Uganda’s Ambassador to Rwanda and President Kagame toast to mark Uganda's Golden Jubilee. PHOTO: Eddie Ssejjoba

Though there is a tendency of always looking back and focus on what has gone wrong, the President said, ‘it is even true to say that in some areas Africa has not made significant progress.’

He however added, “Africans should learn from past mistakes and ensure that though the past has not been so glorious, it was time to focus on the future”.

“By large and small, we can’t deny the fact that Africa is on the move, it is true for Uganda, Rwanda and many African countries,” he explained.

According to Kagame, there is a task ahead as Ugandans and Rwandese to make sure that they have learnt from weaknesses and mistakes and ‘that we are ready to move from the fast with our people in the next 50 years.’

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