Inside Gen Kainerugaba's Meeting with Rwanda's President Kagame

The Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has said that he has lived long enough to know that Uganda and Rwanda are one country.

Gen Kainerugaba tweeted Sunday morning following his meeting with Rwanda's president Kagame on Saturday that only enemies would fight the unity of the brotherly nations.

"I have been alive long enough to know that Uganda and Rwanda are one country! In exile in the 1980s me and my family were also called 'Rwandans'. Only enemies would fight our unity. Let us resolve these small problems quickly and move forward together as always!" Gen Kainerugaba tweeted.

It should be noted that the Ugandan constitution recognizes Rwandese as one of the tribes in Uganda.

In fact, several families in Uganda have relatives in Rwanda and the reverse is true. Such families and other citizens of both nations have been looking forward to an end to strained relations that resulted in the closure of the Rwanda-Uganda border.

This kind of oneness could be sensed as Gen Kainerugaba's delegation mixed and interacted freely during the one-day visit on Saturday.

With the renewed high-level talks, many on social media have expressed optimism that the bad days where businesses have been paralyzed and families unable to visit loved ones are coming to an end.

Meanwhile, Gen Kainerugaba described his meeting with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame as cordial and fruitful, noting the relations between Uganda and Rwanda are set to return to normal.

Gen Kainerugaba who arrived in Rwandan Capital, Kigali on Saturday morning held lengthy discussions with the Rwandan leader at his residence Urugwiro and the leaders later had lunch.

Upon his arrival, Gen Muhoozi was received by the Rwandan Commander Republican Guard, Brig-Gen WIlly Rwagasana and Col Ronald Rwivanga, the Rwandan Ministry of Defence spokesperson.

Also present was Ms Anne Katusiime, Uganda's Deputy Ambassador to Rwanda.

Moments later, the private meeting between Gen Kainerugaba who is also the Commander of UPDF Land Forces and President Kagame kicked off and lasted close to five hours.

Following the meeting, Gen Kainerugaba tweeted, saying he is optimistic that the historic relations between Uganda and Rwanda will normalize under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni and Mr. Kagame.

"I thank President @PaulKagame for the very warm reception my delegation and I received in Kigali today. We held very cordial and in-depth discussions about how to improve our bilateral relations," Gen Kainerugaba said, adding, "I'm confident that under the leadership of our two Presidents we shall be able to quickly restore our historical good relations."

Meanwhile, the Rwanda leader permitted the release of a Ugandan soldier who reportedly entered Rwandan territory without permission.

Gen Kainerugaba thanked President Kagame for releasing the soldier who is attached to Uganda's Special Forces Command (SFC).

"...I further thank President @PaulKagame for honoring my request to release our SFC soldier, Private Ronald Arinda, who strayed into Rwandan territory on personal business without permission. I returned with him tonight to Uganda. Longlive the friendship of the two countries," Gen Kainerugaba said as he concluded a three-part Twitter thread.

The meeting between the two leaders comes less than a week after Gen Kainerugaba tweeted two photos of President Kagame, one of the president as a young man wearing military fatigues, and a more recent image of him in a suit.

"This is my uncle, Paul Kagame. Those who fight him fight my family. They should all be careful," the tweet said.