Major General Fred Rwigema

 

In summary: 25 years on after the death of Gen Fred Rwigema, the world was deceived in numerous ways. Behind the presidential curtains will soon conclude its own investigations on the death of the man that was irreplaceable until today. His forces were left scattered in the Akagera national park, and later turned against each other pugnacious for power, misled by the incompetent commander Kagame who enjoyed the support from Museveni of Uganda to end up leading the RPA/RPF. And later made himself President of the Republic of Rwanda, due to his lack of confidence in leading the forces he started eliminating anyone who could not agree with his poor leadership plans, also was apprehensive of the commanders who were more superior to him and good fighters.

In this year’s remembrance of Afande Fred we reminisce his early departure and how those who are still arrive feel about him, many of us his departure is still fresh in our minds, see this day as yesterday and still see Afande Fred in our eyes.

One  of the commanders recalls the dream of his hero, ‘’It was not a usual dream because I could see you smartly dressed in combat, I was next to my comrades, surprisingly I could see Sgt Kanyangira who died in Kihihi, could see Captain Mugunga who was killed in Kagera. I could see Alex who was killed in Magamaga, If you remember Afande you told us not to ever give up or be misled to betray each other, I am sorry to say that some did not listen to you Sir and this came back to haunt us all’’.

Afande I know that the dreams do not refer to reality, however sometimes they come a series of thoughts, visions, or feelings that happen during sleep, an idea or vision that is created in our imagination and that is not real or something that we have wanted very much to do, be, or have for a long time.

In our situation you were the only one we wanted to have forever and ever, you were our Moses who led the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, after which they based themselves at Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. You gave us the point programmes but after your departure, those point programmes were not honored.

And those who destroyed what you built, were on the streets of Kampala doing nothing while you struggled for 18 years to clear the path for us all, You were a teenager when you left school with the objective to create an opportunity for all Rwandans to return home, you fought wars all the way from Mozambique, Uganda, with an objective of reaching the destination that would finally return us to the Promised Land.

You managed to infiltrate President Habyalimana’s government using a knowledgeable intelligence network, you died young Afande, and you did not see your children grow up simply because you sacrificed yourself for all Rwandans.

We miss you on a daily basis, however I still salute you Afande because you died a hero, on front line because many cowards we see wearing military uniform will die of stroke or AIDS.

At times we became disappointed in ourselves for living this long, Afande Imagine I am nearly 40 years old and you died at 34 years old. But all I have done is to preach your words that nobody listens to, instead all Rwandans are divided and busy tormenting each other, the government is hunting those who still speak out on what you believed in, the opposition is incapable of focusing on important issues but instead busy destroying each other and obsessed with luxury, the main worry now is that everyone is concerned on feeding their stomach and paranoid of whether someone will find out.

We managed to capture the nation as you had instructed Afande, however at an expense that traumatized almost everyone, unfortunately in the end all the work you commenced was hijacked and remains in one man’s hand. Although I believe that it was rewarding being that we stepped forward and changed history, we still cherish the genesis and we believe that one day we will clear the way and install what you told us to fight for. Afande we miss you as always and some of us are still investigating the mysterious death you experienced together with your subordinates, we have made a step from the root cause analysis.  Our findings are closing on those who took your life, will be sent to your family, the World and the Rwandan People at some point. What I can only say now is that Afande we are sure that you were not killed by the Ex-far as many thought in the beginning.

The whole world was left gob smacked all these years we have been waiting to hear, some Rwandans still could not accept the reality that you will never come back but I guess there were somehow right because we believe in you Afande, that one day you will guide us or you speak to your child hood friend who turned into a serial killer to put a stop on his obsession of killing his brothers and sisters. He misled our commanders, they became killers to feed his obsession, Afande you were known as ‘’God of Wars’’ you saved the people of Mozambique, you saved the Karamajong, Afande you installed Mzee Museveni in power, you stopped those wanted to attack Kenya and you created the way for our return to the promised land.

I believe that you are capable of stopping Kagame now, please Afande through you Sir, we believe you could save us from the grumpy old Kagame who is hungry to finish anyone who speaks sense, anyone who preaches equality or democracy, for Paul Kagame it’s a crime.

We will always miss you Afande Gen Fred Rwigema.

Noble Marara