Why Museveni has chosen silence in the ongoing Rwanda saga

WHY MUSEVENI HAS CHOSEN SILENCE IN THE ONGOING RWANDA SAGA

CHANGE OF GUARDS - On March 25, 2018 Museveni and Kagame met at State House in Kampala to iron out their differences. At the end of their closed door meeting, they issued statements that downplayed their differences. Museveni told the press that;
“On security matters, there is no fundamental problem between Rwanda and Uganda. We don't even have a border problem like that of Kenya. A number of incidents that are being commented about in the media, many would be properly addressed if only there was better communication. We discussed that issue (on Rwanda citizens being harassed) and the solution is close cooperation. The interests are clear.....We have phones, we should talk more.”

During the same press conference, the Ugandan president painfully acknowledged that,
“When I met president Kagame in Addis Ababa he gave me some facts which I followed up. A group of Banyarwanda was being recruited through Tanzania and Burundi to go to Congo. They said they were going for church work but when they were interrogated it was found the work was not exactly religious. It was something else.”
That was an incident around December 2017 where Museveni's CMI had facilitated the recruitment from Uganda and travel to Congo of 40 Rwandan RNC dissident recruits but were intercepted at Kikagati border post courtesy of Gen. Kalekyezi and group.

On his part, Kagame said that;
"I can say with great satisfaction that we were able to agree on a number of important things for the benefit of our countries and region. Better communication, working together more deeply and sharing facts regularly will allow us to take better decisions."

Last month, Kagame gave an interview in which he complained about Museveni's inaction in resolving issues before he plainly put it that Uganda was hosting Rwandan dissidents.
"Because we have made so many pronouncements, we’ve made statements. When it comes to optics, to the microphones, we are saying the best things and the right things. But we should make an effort to do those things, not just say them. It doesn’t hurt anyone to keep on trying. What hurts is keeping quiet. And of course things are not improving because of that. Because we’re not doing much. We have had discussions over this for two years, we can resolve them whether it is egos or just wishing that things should be bad. Some of the things that are said to be believed by Uganda about us, are coming from these individuals living in South Africa. It is these individuals in South Africa plotting all kinds of things against us [and they] are the ones giving information to Uganda in a way to solicit support from Uganda against us. Whether accurate or not, the information is designed to create that problem from which they benefit. If Uganda believes in some of these things, it is because they have made a choice to believe them. We have raised these matters with Uganda; that when they are given information, it is because those people want to buy Uganda’s support."

The government of Uganda through its spokesman, Ofwono Opondo rubbished Kagame's assertion by blaming Rwanda for conducting diplomacy in the press. When Rwanda issued a travel advisory to its citizens on travelling to Uganda citing harassment, arrests, torture, detentions, and illegal deportations, Kampala went in a panicky mode with a barricade of uncoordinated responses. The situation was saved by Museveni's order of silence as made public by the government spokesman;
"President Museveni asked us not to respond to them through the media like it has always been. Ministers and government agencies responsible will do it using the appropriate channels."

In the meantime, Rwanda went ahead to present its case through the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In a March 4th interview with the New Times newspaper, Richard Ssezibera narrated the issues under contention;

New Times:
The UN Group of Experts on DR Congo in December 2018 released a report in which they concluded that P5 – a Rwandan rebel group based in Eastern DR Congo that includes RNC, FLDR militia (largely blamed for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda) – has been recruiting from Uganda and Burundi. Is Rwanda of the view that the two countries are facilitating the rebel group?

Sezibera:
Those involved have responded yes to the question. There are people who were handed over to Rwanda, some of the leaders who are now here and they have confirmed that they were facilitated by a number of actors within those two countries. The UN Group of Experts has also pointed it out. So the answer to your question is yes.

New Times:
Do you mean they receive support from these governments themselves, or individuals in those two countries?

Sezibera:
I am talking about individuals, some of who are in positions of responsibility in those governments.

New Times:
How much has been revealed by two former FDLR officials – La Forge Fils Bazeye (spokesperson) and Lt. Col. Theophile Abega (head of intelligence) – who were handed to Rwanda by DR Congo authorities?

Sezibera:
Quite a bit. They have given us very useful information. Part of it is what I am telling you, that they have been facilitated by elements within those governments.

Recently, Kagame told his government retreat that he is losing patience and hope with Museveni's indifference to issues that threaten Rwanda's security. He singled out a Rwandan business tycoon, Filbert Rujugiro whom he accused of bankrolling Rwandan dissidents.
“President Museveni replied to me that he didn’t know Rujugiro at all but when I presented evidence, he responded that he would look into the matter,” Kagame said.
During the meeting, Kagame said Museveni told him that Rwanda should differentiate between business and politics.
Kagame went further to say that he had asked Museveni to tell him if there is any matter between his country and Uganda so that he can work on it but the Ugandan leader has kept quiet instead.
“I used even the word I beg you to handle these matters. As usual, I left the matter in his hands to sort it."

From the foregoing, it can be deduced that there was a breach of trust on the part of Museveni. What happened to the March 5, 2018 joint resolution by the two leaders to open lines of communication?? Museveni very well knows Kagame's capability to collect concrete evidence in form of intelligence on what is happening in the Museveni camp. This was the case in 2001 during their London meeting that was mediated by then UK Foreign Secretary, Claire Short. Kagame presented concrete information that left Museveni embarrassingly humiliated. It is the same case that Kagame alludes to above when he claims that he had pinned Museveni by presenting to him evidence that he knows Rujugiro. Obviously, such kind of evidence must be in form of leaked intelligence from Museveni's camp.

Around December 2018, FDRL Spokesperson, Ignatius Nkaka and the FDRL head of Intelligence, Jean Piers Nsekanabo were intercepted by the authorities in DRC at the Bunagana border post with Uganda. The two were suspected to have been returning from Uganda where they had been state guests. The DRC later handed them over to Rwanda and as the Foreign Minister put it;
"They have given us useful information", Uganda must be highly incriminated.

Therefore, by opting to keep silent, Museveni is trying to avoid humiliation by a barrage of concrete evidence of his complicity that must be in possession of Rwanda. This is what makes him develop cold feet over the option of seeking a credible mediator.

Museveni has not totally kept silent, he has warned Kagame thus;
"Those who want to disturb Uganda, they don’t know our capacity. Our capacity is very big. Once we mobilise, you cannot survive. I can assure you of that if you are a trouble maker."
Ensonyi nozifuula obusungu (turning embarrassment into anger) has dire consequences.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM