Rdasingwa with Kayumba, grasshoopers next to them

The recent divorce between Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa and Gen. Kayumba Nyawasa and the formation of New Rwanda National Congress led by Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa did not come as a surprise but what is surprising though, is the bitterness both leaders have against each other.

Dr. Theogene Rudasigwa in the weekly debate on the BBC Gahuza Miryango in the famous programme Imvo n’invano has clashed with Gen. Kayumba representative Gervais Cyondo over many issues. Dr. Theogene has accused his colleagues of derailing from the original plan and using “gangs” of former RPF soldiers and supporters of Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa to demonize him.

Interestingly the marriage of these former founder members of RPF and Rwanda National Congress respectively was built on sand and many supporters had warned them that they should sweep their house clean rather than sweeping under the carpet.

The first casualties of this internal RNC weakness were Dr. Paulin Murayi, and Mr. Paul Rusesabagina, Jeanne Umulisa, Noble Marara, Emmanuel Munyamboga, John Mugenzi just to mention a few. Although none of the above went public to spill the beans, the factor that led their departure has now been exposed by Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa and Gervais Cyondo.

Why these two comrades really put their linen outside their house?

It is very hard to understand but it’s even unnecessary, given the fact that they are all hunted by one man Paul Kagame who is not only a dictator but predator to all those opposed to his dictatorial rule.  Indeed, the division and the language used by both former comrades is not palatable for the peace hungry Rwandans who have put all their trust in the Rwanda National Congress.

The fragmentation of the Rwanda National Congress is a big blow to all Rwandans and a wasteful of the limited human and financial resources of the RNC but even for the Rwandans who will carry the burden of contributing for two groups claiming to have the same vision but different strategy.

When the first Protestant missionaries came to Uganda in 1877 led by Alexander Murdoch Mackay met the Buganda King Mutesa I, He welcomed and gave them land at Mengo, after two years another group of catholic missionaries of white fathers led by Father Simon lourdel (MAPERA) and Br. Amans arrived, they were also given a place at Rubaga and they preached the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth.

However, before the death of King Mutesa I, he had started to ask the missionaries the difference between the Protestant and the Catholic Missionaries and whether, the Jesus they were preaching was different. Surprisingly, they all told King Mutesa that the Jesus was the same, except they had different approach. This did not go well to the King who innocently didn’t know much about the Anglican and Catholic Church, in fact both churches divorced not on ideological principle but personal desires.

The Anglican Church was born out of King Henry VIII who wanted to marry another wife and divorce Queen Catherine but the Roman Catholic Church refused to divorce him, who out of anger he proclaimed the birth of Anglican Church.  When the followers of these two churches came to Uganda as missionaries invited by King Mutesa I, they brought their confusion with them.

His Son Mwanga was confused and ordered his subjects to stop going to the worshiping places of the missionaries or will be burnt alive.  The followers of these missionaries full of the Holy Spirit according to the scriptures refused the orders of King Mwanga, the King eventually ordered the killing of all the people who refused to heed his call, these were later made Uganda martyrs by Pope Paul VI.

This is what the fragmentation of RNC whatever reasons or motive might have over their subjects and they have already caused the damage to RNC, their own integrity and honest of the motive of their struggle.  If they cannot solve problems of a group of few officials let alone of RNC followers, how will they convince Rwandans who in fact are yearning to see the day Kagame is removed from power that they are capable of bringing that change to Rwandans?

Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa goes further by saying that they should rather keep in power a known devil (Kagame) than bringing a new angel that is unknown. Those are in the words of Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa who compared some elements in the RNC with “gangs” whose intention is to work for one individual. Interestingly, these are the same accusations against Kagame.

How would you remove one group from power and you replace it with another group that is worse than the one you have removed? This is what the Uganda leader Yoweri Museveni said in his famous speech, “the fundamental change and change of guards”.

The RNC is behaving like grasshoppers a common delicacy in East Africa collected in the bush put in a container while you are looking for oil and onions to fry them.

Instead of finding their way out by working together to escape their captive, they start to bite and bruising each other making it easier and quicker for the captive to fry them without any resistance. Besides, the RNC is a small party operating outside Rwanda with limited human resources and funds, why do you waste and fragment both supporters and sources of funding?  You should find a common ground and don’t allow your minor differences overtake your vision because what you have in common is far greater than what is separating you.

Jacqueline Umurungi

Brussels.