Uganda says Gen Nyamwasa might not be in the country

Agencies

Kigali: The Uganda government says it is also looking for Lt. General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa who Rwanda claimed on Friday was on the run in Uganda, as the two countries try to minimize any impact of the latest twist to their relations.

Up until his flight on Friday after an annual retreat of diplomats in Kigali, the General was Rwanda’s ambassador to India and previously served as the second army chief after the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. He would later be named head of the national security services.

Uganda’s Defence Spokesman, Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, told Daily Monitor he is “unaware” if the fugitive is being sheltered in Kampala, as alleged, and referred the daily to Mr. Sam Kutesa, the Foreign Affairs Minister.

“I am trying to seek details from security but we are also looking for him. But why do you want him?” Mr Kutesa asked the papaer.

With Uganda formally denying the General’s presence in the country, Rwanda said it was not yet suspecting any "beef" since Kigali had been “assured it would get maximum cooperation”.

Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda news agency (RNA) last evening that her government had registered its “concern” with officials of Uganda’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and that of Local Government as well as security chiefs.

“The authorities took my concern and said if they get information that is of interest, they will let our government know,” she said, referring to the contested whereabouts of Gen. Nyamwasa.

Peoples of the two countries are bonded in many ways, trade and shared heritage and culture inclusive. For instance, available information suggests that Uganda was one of the principal backer of the RPF guerrilla movement that brought the current Kigali leadership, and President Paul Kagame to power.

However over the years, political rivalry and suspected bruised ego of some of the leaders in either country threw the bilateral relation into a mess with armies of the two countries fighting one another several times in Kisangani during the 1997-2003 in Democratic Republic of Congo, which they had both joined as allies.

Asked if Rwanda-Uganda relations had been damaged, Ms Mushikiwabo, who is also spokesperson of the Rwandan government, said: “I don’t think the flight of one person can dent our relationships that have been solid for long.” “Our two countries have much more in common that a fugitive can destroy.”
we have learnt that Gen. Nyamwasa’s issue, a diplomatic nightmare for Uganda, will form the highlight of discussions at a Joint Permanent Commission meeting due in Kampala, on Wednesday, which will review security and bilateral ties between the two counties.