Rwandan President Paul Kagame has heaped praises on UPDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugabe for his conviction and concerted effort in restoring diplomatic relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
Last year, Muhoozi spearheaded talks which resulted into reopening of Katuna/Gatuna border which Rwandan leader had closed for 4 years.
In 2018, Rwanda closed its border in retaliating the arrest of its agents in Uganda over espionage. They were later released and repatriated.
Traders from both sides suffered a major business setback as goods from either side were not allowed.
Muhoozi who kickstarted the negotiations on Twitter last year, travelled to Kigali and held private talks with President Kagame.
The latter would travel to Uganda to attend Muhoozi’s 48th birthday celebrations at State House Entebbe as a mark of the new diplomatic chapter between the two nations.
And over the weekend Muhoozi travelled to Kigali accompanied by a number of Ugandan officials to meet and celebrate his 49th birthday with Kagame whom he now describes as “a friend.”
In his speech, Muhoozi said the spark of the new relations which both countries are now enjoying began from the cows Kagame gifted him.
Muhoozi said: We went from him being President and me being an army officer to becoming friends. And the mark of friendship were the cows he gave me and I take that very very seriously. And I would like to report to you that the cows are doing well. They have produced. You gave me 10 cows now I have 17 cows. So from that point on we really became friends.
On his part Kagame described Muhoozi as a bridge which both countries used to cross from side to another.
“We are seeing peace between our two countries. Well you can have peace and at the same not be friends. This time I think we have both. We are friends and we are at peace, thanks to you General Muhoozi for your role in this and conviction being that bridge that we used to cross from one side to another.”
