Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is set for a two-day State visit in Mombasa starting Wednesday, March 27 amid a nasty dispute with neighboring Rwanda over the border.
Museveni will received by President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa where the State reception ceremonies will be conducted.
In a statement issued Monday evening, State House spokesperson Kanze Dena said the two leaders will then proceed to State House, Mombasa for bilateral talks.
“…they (Presidents Kenyatta and Museveni) will lead bilateral talks with their respective delegations before conducting a joint press briefing,” said Kanze Dena.
This comes as tensions are mounting dangerously between Rwanda and Uganda. The two African countries historically have been closely linked, with each playing a key role in the other’s political development. But all that is now in peril.
On March 5, however, poor relations between the two countries come to a head after the Rwandan foreign minister, Richard Sezibera, held a press conference outlining Rwanda’s concerns with Uganda. He briefly closed the border with Uganda and advised Rwandans residing in Uganda to leave immediately.
He accused Uganda of arresting Rwandans, disrupting regional trade and of providing support and space for anti-Rwanda groups. Uganda has denied all the allegations.
These recent diplomatic problems are nothing unusual, but the rhetoric has started to move up a gear. During the annual National Leadership Retreat, also known as “Umwiherero”, Kagame said of the mounting crisis with Uganda:
You [Uganda] can attempt to destabilise our country, you can do us harm, you can shoot me with a gun and kill me. But there is one thing that is impossible: No one can bring me to my knees. Men and women of my country, you should never accept to be brought to your knees. You are much better than that.
President Museveni could now make similar inroads by expressing his understanding of Rwanda’s concerns—and its desire to be treated with respect. He should start with a gesture of goodwill by removing any known FDLR or RNC associates from the country.
War is unlikely and there is some hope—Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta has met with both leaders and may help to mediate between them. But if nothing is done to ease the current standoff, tensions will remain high, impacting not only regional relations but both countries’ development and integration, too.
During the two-day State Visit, President Museveni, accompanied by President Kenyatta, will tour the Port of Mombasa.