Uganda is bothered about Rwanda’s unilateral closure of the border and the continued provocation in the media, foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa has said.
“Uganda has never and will never close her borders to any country. We have been refraining from conducting diplomacy in newspapers, because that is not how things are done, despite provocations by our friends and their media,” Kutesa said.
The minister said it is disappointing when ‘our sister’ Rwanda is the chair of the East African Community (EAC). “It is affecting trade and our shared economy. Our best efforts will be applied to resolve this unnecessary conflict,” Kutesa said.
Addressing a news conference yesterday about the ministry’s implementation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto, Kutesa said he will make a statement on the Uganda/Rwanda relations in a meeting with diplomats today.
He said Uganda, a champion of closer collaboration within regional frameworks like the EAC, International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development, does not accept what he termed as false allegations made by Rwanda.
“Why would Uganda ever want to agree with rebels that want to destabilize a neighbouring country? Uganda does not allow anyone to operate from its territory to threaten a neighbor as alleged,” Kutesa said.
Flanked by the permanent secretary, Patrick Mugoya, Kutesa maintained that Rwanda is a brotherly country and that Uganda remains ready to address any issues to strengthen the bilateral relations and co-operation.