President Paul Kagame

The banyarwanda have a saying that you will never run from death ( intiruhungwa),indeed the former Rwandan external security boss Patrick Karegeya has met his own death  he was running from death for the last 6 six years since he left Rwanda hoping to cheat it. As investigations are still going on, the questions are now on many Rwandan lips and of course the host country South Africa where Patrick sought protection as to who has carried out this cowardly act on a foreign land.

However, for some of us who have lived and known the Rwandan Head of State it is not a surprise and even Patrick himself knew that he is the target of his former boss who does not tolerate political opponents. But what is surprising though is the timing and how Patrick was persuaded to fall in the death trap he knew was imminent.

Col Patrick Karegeya

The Rwandan leader is a former senior intelligence officer in the then NRA (UPDF) Ugandan rebel group headed by the current Ugandan Leader Yoweri Museveni, therefore he knows how to use money and also tactics for eliminating his opponents.  Apparently, RPF has monopolized all the Rwandan economy making it one of the richest parties on the continent.  This means that any mission however much it will cost; it will not affect the wallet of the RPF.

As people (Rwandans) mourn for Patrick, they should also start to think about who is next to be hit by the Kagame killing squad , this is the man many Rwandans believe that   he does what he says and says what he does(invugo niyongiro). When the Tanzanian Head of State advised Kagame to talk to the rebels, Kagame said that he listened   with all contempt to what he called ideological problem to President Kikwete and warned him that at a right place and time he will hit him.

Obviously, in the running of the world Cup in South Africa in 2010 an attempt on the life of the Rwandan former Military Chief Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa  was made and by Gods sake  the Gen survived , is he now the next target?  When the assassination attempt was made on the life of the Rwandan former Minister Seth Sendashonga , he was advised to leave Kenya , he thought that may be the Kenyan government will track his killers or protect him, but just after one year  Seth was shot dead on the streets of Nairobi. Does the killing of Patrick make South Africa a death trap for the Rwandan dissents or the trap can be avoided?

Why Kagame has continued to eliminate his opponents?  The answer is simple to be found, unfortunately his regime has run out of ideas, secondary he has used most of his security officers in the killing of any nature, this does not only make him vulnerable for future prosecution but equally those who disagree with him are vulnerable especially those who worked with him, because they know too much against him.

Patrick and his comrade Gen Nyamwasa had said that at an appropriate time they will spill the beans against Kagame on how he masterminded the death of many Rwandans both inside and outside the country.  Indeed, this was the last nail in their coffin for either political or physical elimination. With most so called Hutus in his government smeared with mud, making them politically impotent, he is now the only bull in the kraal.

Having removed from office his former Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama who advised him to step down come 2017, he is now confident of killing the rest, or intimidate other would be presidential contenders, and then use his rubber stamp parliament for the amendment of the Constitution to give him another term or life presidency.

Patrick once said that dictators don’t listen but are rather pushed, so this is a vindication to those who thought that they will handle the Bible or go to the Streets of UN and pray or request the UN to hold the Rwandan leader accountable for the crimes against Rwandans and his neighbors.

For those of us who believe in the Bible, Mathew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Kagame cannot and will not destroy the thirst for democracy and the freedom for all Rwandans that are yearning to achieve.

Karegeya as a person has left the stage but the soul and what he stood for will live with us  and inspire many Rwandans in their resolve to stand up for the murderous regime  and will one day bring to justice Kagame and those  he uses to carry these cowardly acts against Rwandans; May his soul rest in Peace.

Jacqueline Umurungi

Brussels.