Museveni in Kigali as RPF marks 25 years

By Cyprian Musoke in Kigali, Rwanda

President Yoweri Museveni will today be one of the special guests at the commemoration of 25 years of the founding of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF).

The celebrations take place today at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

Museveni jetted into Kigali yesterday and was welcomed at Kigali International Airport by Rwanda foreign affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Rwanda Richard Kabonero, Chief of Defence Forces of Rwanda Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga, and Rwanda’s envoy in Uganda Frank Mugambagye.

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Museveni inspects a guard of honour on arrival in Kigali

During his stay in Rwanda, President Museveni will meet with his counterpart, Paul Kagame.

Others who are in Kigali for the celebrations are state minister without Portfolio Richard Todwong, NRM deputy Secretary General Dorothy Hyuha, NRM Electoral Commission chairman Elijah Mushemeza, NRM Secretariat administrator Dr. Hassan Galiwango and Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga.

Museveni was later hosted to a dinner together with foreign and local dignitaries at the Serena Kigali Hotel.

As part of activities to mark the anniversary, scholars, diplomats, government and RPF officials took part in an international conference on liberation struggles, with the theme, “Inclusive governance, prosperity and dignity for our people” at the Serena hotel.

The vice-chairman of RPF, Christophe Bazivamo, said the country had transcended the 1994 genocide to build peace, unity, fight corruption and create sustainable development amid many challenges and prejudices.

He called for the acceleration of regional integration to create synergies and economies of scale in order to stand up to the prejudices of the West.

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Mushikiwabo castigated the Western powers (G5) and other global alliances that gang together to intimidate especially African governments.

David King, an adviser to President Kagame, said Rwanda was setting a tone of optimism in this century that belongs to Africa. He urged African countries to shift from celebrating their successful liberation struggles and focus on uplifting the welfare of their people.

Kabushenga called for a re-assessment of the ideologies that informed the liberation struggles to re-direct the countries, instead of quoting impressive growth figures to “account to the wrong constituency” in the West instead of their people. He called for another round of liberation that will involve discipline and sacrifice.

Mushemeza called for more networking between states to provide the assertiveness needed for “a new liberation struggle” against poverty and need.

Dr. Golooba Mutebi from Uganda said lack of good service delivery by governments leads to issues like poor health that gives way to poverty which often cuts across generations, according to a study they had done.

Jenerali Ulimwengu from Tanzania said after the liberation struggles, there must be a new war against other challenges and new enemies in which the people are the key resource.