Uganda Today Edition: The Untold Reason Why Rwanda Closed Its Border With Uganda
By Kakwenza Rukirabashaija | Uganda Today
In the swirl of propaganda, smokescreens, and self-righteous press briefings, the real reason why Rwanda unceremoniously closed its border with Uganda in 2019 has remained buried—until now.
Forget the parroted phrases about “human rights violations” and “harassment of Rwandan citizens.” The actual cause of the icy standoff lies in a secret, high-stakes meeting orchestrated by President Museveni himself, deep within the guarded fences of Kisozi ranch.
It all began in December 2018, when Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa—exiled in South Africa and Kagame’s sworn nemesis—was summoned to Kampala under tight secrecy. Museveni had arranged for Nyamwasa to meet with two top figures from the FDLR rebel group: Ignace Nkaka a.k.a. La Forge Fils Bazeye, the FDLR’s spokesman, and Jean Pierre Nsekanabo, a.k.a. Abega, the group’s chief of intelligence. The mission? Forge a dangerous alliance between the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) and FDLR—Kagame’s arch-enemies.
The meeting venue? Kisozi Ranch, with none other than a visibly disinterested Muhoozi Kainerugaba in attendance, reportedly dozing off in the middle of the crucial talks.
Nyamwasa agreed to the deal, backed by full Ugandan government support. After sealing the alliance, he flew back to South Africa, while Bazeye and Abega attempted to sneak back into Congo. But fate struck: Congolese intelligence intercepted and arrested them before they could regroup.
As the Congolese elections approached—riddled with rigging and political tension—then-African Union Chairperson Paul Kagame refused to recognize the election outcome, challenging Kabila’s orchestration of the vote. But Kabila had a strategic ace: he called Kagame and offered a sweetener of intelligence—a tell-all from the two captured rebels, who had by then been “persuasively interrogated” and spilled everything.
With ironclad proof of a Ugandan-backed insurrection plot, Kagame struck a diplomatic blow: the rebels were extradited to Rwanda, public trials ensued, and Nyamwasa narrowly survived an assassination attempt in South Africa. When Kagame called Museveni for explanations, Uganda’s patriarch denied everything—classic cold war tactics.
Rwanda’s response? Close the border in February 2019. Overnight, movement froze. Trade collapsed. Families were divided. Citizens suffered. All while the real story simmered in silence.
What the public was told—accusations of spying, torture, and arrests—were convenient red herrings meant to distract from the geopolitical chessboard playing out behind closed doors.
And as always, the powerless bore the brunt of the power games.
But in all this, remember my humorous philosophy:
“People look for God from so many different places not knowing that God is found in suckling women’s breasts.” Kakwenza
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