Rwandan President Paul Kagame made a last minute cancellation and did not turn up to officiate during the closure of a regional police workshop that has been ongoing in Uganda’s Amuru District.

Delegates were surprised when his presidential motorcade that had travelled from Kigali to the venue returned to Rwanda yesterday.

State minister for International Affairs Henry Okello Oryem said President Kagame cancelled the Ugandan trip in order to arrive in time at anInternational Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) meeting scheduled in Angola. “He travelled to Luanda (Angola’s capital). It was estimated that by the time he closes the meeting, flies back to Entebbe and goes to Luanda, it would be late for him. So, he decided to cancel the trip,” Mr Oryem said.

President Museveni, who has been the ICGLR chairman for two years, is expected to handover to Angolan President Eduardo Dos Santos. The Luanda meeting is expected to discuss regional conflicts in DR Congo, South Sudan and CAR.

On Friday, social media forums on the Internet was abuzz with claims that an attempt may have been made on President Kagame’s life, an assertion Kigali has rubbished in the face of other reports of a heightened state of alert of that country’s security forces.

Deployment claims
International news media yesterday reported that Rwanda was massing troops along its border with the DR Congo. Uncorroborated reports said there were suspicions that elements opposed to Kigali planned to invade the country from bases in the eastern part of DRC.

Mr Oryem said he was not aware of this troop deployment. Ms Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda government foreign minister, never responded to calls last evening.

Speaking at the Rwandan national prayer breakfast on Sunday President Kagame had warned of severe consequences for whoever turned on their country. “You cannot betray Rwanda and get away with it. There are consequences for betraying your country,” he said. “Whoever is undermining Rwanda usually faces serious consequences wherever they are, “ he reportedly warned.

Mr Kagame’s speech is being interpreted as a reaction to widespread attention Kigali has drawn since the killing of his former chief of external intelligence, Col Patrick Karegeya. Col Karegeya was killed in South Africa on December 31. He had been living in South Africa where he had teamed up with other opponents of Kagame’s rule after falling out with Kigali in 2007.
Vice President Edward Ssekandi presided over the closure of the police meeting.

Extradition requests

On Monday, the Commissioner General of Rwanda Police, Gen Emmanuel Gasana, asked President Museveni whether it is possible to extradite people whom he said run away from prosecution and seek refuge in other countries on claims that they are political victims.

“Criminals after committing crimes from one country go to another country and call themselves asylum seekers. Then UNCHR, NGOs come to defend them. It is a big problem,” Gen Gasana said. Sources say Interpol Rwanda has written to Uganda police to extradite seven Rwandan refugees.

rkasasira@ug.nationmedia.com

Placide KayitareAFRICARwandan President Paul Kagame made a last minute cancellation and did not turn up to officiate during the closure of a regional police workshop that has been ongoing in Uganda’s Amuru District. Delegates were surprised when his presidential motorcade that had travelled from Kigali to the venue returned to Rwanda yesterday. State minister...PUBLISHING YOUR NEWS WITH CUTTING EDGE STYLE