KIGALI – Second Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda Kivejinja and Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa on Wednesday afternoon arrived in Kigali for Rwanda’s Liberation Day (Kwibohora) celebrations despite the strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.
Liberation Day marks 25 years since Rwanda Patriotic Forces stopped the Genocide in 1994 and liberated the country.
Mr Kivejinja will be representing President Museveni while Mr Kutesa is a special envoy.
The dignatories were received by Ambassador Oliver Wonekha, her Deputy Anne Katusiime, and the Defence Attache, Maj.Gen.Burundi.
Uganda and Rwanda, despite sharing mutual cultural ties have been at loggerheads over the last two years, with each country accusing the other of sponsoring rebels to overthrow one another.
In February, Rwanda closed its borders with Uganda, accusing Kampala of continuing to arrest and torture it’s citizens and funding Rwandan dissidents to destabilize the regime in Kigali.
While Ugandans can travel to Rwanda unhindered, they are not authorised to bring back goods with them, which has resulted in a supply deficit in local Rwandan markets.
However, Uganda has denied the allegations and continues to behave normally towards Rwanda.
Since last week, UPDF soldiers have been working with their Rwanda counterparts in offering free medical services to Rwandans as part of the activities to mark this year’s EAC Partner States Armed Forces Civil-Military activities.
