AFRICA: It is too early for Kampala to rejoice over Rwanda's Gen. Kabareve exit (PHOTOS)

IT'S TOO EARLY FOR KAMPALA TO REJOICE OVER RWANDA'S GEN. KABAREBE'S EXIT

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame recently made some reshuffles in the command structure of his military and police force, removing Gen James Kabarebe from the powerful position of Defence Minister. The long-serving police chief Emmanuel Gasana was also dropped and replaced by Dan Munyuza, who had been serving as Deputy IGP in charge of Operations. Gasana was posted to the less significant position of Governor of the Southern Province. Gen. Kabarebe will now serve as the Senior Defense and Security Advisor in the Office of the President.

Both Gen. Kabarebe and Brig. Dan Munyuza formerly served under Museveni's military Intelligence (DMI) in the late 1980s before they left to take over power in Rwanda. Kabarebe headed the Registry with the help of among others then Sgt. Richard Karemere (current Museveni army spokesman) and then Private Dan Munyuza. In Rwanda, both Kabarebe and Dan Munyuza have held various top positions in the security services thus strong pillars of the Kagame regime. Gen. Kabarebe is renown for having been Congo's Chief of Staff under Kabila (Snr) in the late 1990s. Ever since the Kisangani clashes of the late 1990s which were commanded by Gen. Kabarebe, sour relations between Kagame and Museveni have never fully recovered. Both Kabarebe and Munyuza are reputed for being a thorn in these relations.

On 20th June 2018, at a public function in Rwanda's western region, Gen. Kabarebe made a shocking attack on Museveni;
"You’re scavenging in Uganda. Why do you scavenge in Uganda? Why don’t you build your own country? Why go to be in a foreign land? We left Uganda, we lived in Uganda as refugees, we gave our blood and lives for that country. But now, we gave our blood to liberate our own country, let them also come here because there is no need of you going to Uganda for scavenging. In all indicators we are doing better than them. Whatever knocks/happens in Uganda, Rwanda is always blamed. When someone dies at the hands of a Ugandan or the state when fighting their own issues, they will always blame Rwanda or a Rwandan. In all incidences, their fingers are always pointing towards Rwanda. These blame games means something else. Uganda isn’t happy of our peace, developmental progress and Rwanda’s leadership that has reached at another level in trying to develop the country and Rwandans. They are just jealous and envy, nothing else. Why do we need to go there? Why not build our country and let the rest including Ugandans come to live in Rwanda. We shall welcome them.”

The reshuffles come amidst heightened tension between Kampala and Kigali.
On the other hand, former police chief Gasana had gotten more closer to his then counterpart in Uganda, Gen. Kalelyezi who was recently sacked over alleged Rwanda backed plot to have him overthrow Museveni. While the reshuffle on the surface looks as easing tension, Gen. Kabarebe's current position equates him to Museveni's Gen. Saleh who, despite being structurally outside Museveni's security apparatus, not only remains a strong pillar but is at the center of Museveni - Kagame relations. Both Gen. Kabarebe and Gen. Saleh remain the defacto number two to their respective Presidents.

Therefore, the status quo in terms of relations between Museveni and Kagame remains the same unless the fundamental question is addressed.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IW MUSEVENISM

change of guards