Uganda’s relations with neighboring Rwanda have been mild for over 4 years now.
Kigali and Kampala haven’t been on friendly terms over a number of accusations including meddling in each others politics.
To soften the bad blood, a number of emissaries have been approached to pave the way for heightened working relations.
Leading among Kampala’s choice of mediator is Ambassador Adonia Ayebare who is the ambassador designate for Special Duties.
Yesterday, in the course of executing his role, the amiable Ambassador took to Twitter to attack the Deputy Director of State House controlled Government Citizen Interact Centre, Duncan Abigaba.
The diplomatic but hard hitting banter kicked off on social media site Twitter pitting a section of regime protagonists against Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare over his ‘soft tongue’ on neighbouring Rwanda.
The diplomat described the youthful government official Duncan Abigaba as a “keyboard warrior”, a revelation that raised dust.
Ambassador Ayebare has at some point been at the center of mediating the frosty relations between Kampala and Kigali following President Paul Kagame’s decision to close Gatuna/Katuna border in 2019.
At the epitome of Uganda- Rwanda talks, Kampala released and deported all Rwandan agents arrested in Kampala that were operating to destabilize the country.
Kampala’s die hard supporters insist that no single Rwandan arrested has been killed, unlike what is happening to Ugandans in Rwanda.
Against that background, Mr Abigaba expressed discontent how Rwandan leader Paul Kagame remains unapologetic over the deaths of Ugandans in his country.
Ambassador Ayebare promptly responded to Abigaba as being out of order for calling a “foreign Head of State” names.
“I am glad you have realized the folly of being a keyboard warrior when it comes to sensitive issues of inter-state relations, which are very complex. You Being a GOU official calling a foreign Head of State names is out order,” Ambassador Ayebare tweeted, little did he know he had aroused anger.
His position engineered lethal responses from top NRM supporters who questioned Ayebare’s loyalty at a time Uganda keeps receiving dead bodies of her citizens arrested in Rwanda.
Without being apologetic, authorities in Rwandan have consistently referred to the deceased as “smugglers” and illegal aliens
On Sunday residents of Kabale district protested the illegal entry of Rwandans into Uganda.
The MP of Kasambya County, David Kabanda asked Amb. Ayebare whether he wanted Abigaba to instead “praise” Rwanda for handing over innocent Ugandan dead bodies.
Other Ugandans who joined in on the Twitter banter had no kind words for the ambassadors soft stance with Rwanda. David Kabanda wrote ‘Should Duncan keep quiet when the Rwandan government is killing innocent Ugandans just because he is a government official? You wanted him to praise Rwanda for handing over innocent Ugandan dead bodies?
While another, oddly named Akandwanaho tweeted ‘I am speechless! Who’s Amb. Adonia, trying to impress in this case! Did he have to play to the gallery, even if Duncan deserved a caution? It’s like he’s trying to impressing someone that he’s doing a good job? My qn, is it Uganda or Rwanda?’
Another prominent tweep, Felix Kuntariho wrote ‘Such people are the ones promoting neocolonialism. We shall not cease to fight the injustices. But those in positions like Duncan Abigaba can do better. I don’t support Amb. Adonia Ayebare’s arguments’.
Other Ugandans who joined the discussion weren’t impressed with the Ambassador’s direction. One named Futurical wrote ‘True. Duncan Abigaba perhaps needs to tone one or two things, but not to fold his tail, like the Ambassador is suggesting. It was also very disrespectful for the Ambassador to refer to Duncan Abigaba as a keyboard warrior. If he understands diplomacy, he should have known better!’
Karibwije Phillious didn’t hide his admiration for the Ambassador tweeting ‘Whereas I largely agree with the sentiments of Adonia Ayebare as shared before. I sympathise with you my brother Duncan Abigaba, at your rank in government no one has a right of diminishing you to just a keyboard warrior. U deserve some respect! Not easy to achieve what you have!’
To crown it all, Alinda Sam wrote ‘Amb. Adonia Ayebare what have you done to stop the killing of innocent Ugandan. Have you even compensated their families? You should visit Kamwezi and Katuna and see how people are suffering and grieving. Stopping Duncan Abigaba wont solve any thing’
It largely remains unclear what the Government position on the discussion was since no Government Spokesperson jumped onto the discussion.
