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Two decades ago, Rwandans led by Gen. Fred Rwigyema marched the border of Kagitumba  opening the gate of no return to exile with their famous song,  “atatukunde kama misumari hatuwezi kurudi nyuma”.  However, all the hope of no return to exile died with Gen. Fred Rwigyema, it is estimated that more Rwandans are now in exile than before the 1990 struggle of the RPF.

What went wrong?

It’s bad news to all Rwandans, the country and the dreams of Fred Rwigyema were hijacked by the semi-literate Paul Kagame, who has already announced that he will stand for a third term, which could see him in power until 2034.

The sudden death of Fred was a setback to the RPF revolution because it brought in a man who later became its leader despite the fact that, he was very far or little known in the queue of the leadership of RPF organization. Indeed, this created a power struggle between the elite class of the RPF who saw Kagame as not only jumping the queue but also incompetent both mentally and physically to lead the organization.

Kagame’s ascendance to power was accidental but could also be traced from being close to the Uganda leader Yoweri Museveni who knew Paul as a ruthless killer who will bring back life to the RPF/RPA which had just lost its gallant leader at the time. However, little did Mr. Museveni know that he will kill all his comrades, Kagame was initially resisted by some of the senior RPF commanders, but one by one, all have paid a heavy price, Kagame has executed them or made them politically impotent, or banished in exile, it’s not surprising that none from the initial bunch that opened the gates of Kagitumba is still serving in the RDF.

While the intention of President Museveni was to put a new momentum in the RPF/RPA, Kagame was faced with resistance from some of his colleagues and suffered from multiple complexes.

His inability to have leadership skills brought him in constant collision with his comrades. This was the beginning of RPF tragedy until today were he uses the elections as a masterpiece of authority.

The outside world will never know or they just close the eyes for all the mess and mass killings in the country, because the vote is passed in an ambience of total serenity. No negative incidents are reported in the country: there are no protests, no complaints, no boycotts or demonstrations. The people queue up obediently. None of the opposing candidates can claim procedural irregularities. They always play the theatre to perfection so that the authoritarian leader prevails.

Kagame is a canny animal; at the time of his sham elections he brings in the country foreign visitors: foreign dignitaries, journalists, election observers. Reports from that day would be broadcast across the world. A careful decorum had to be maintained. The official observers are always unanimous in their praise. The African Union and the Commonwealth lauds the government’s impeccable planning: how the booths had opened on time, how people had voluntarily lined up with their identity cards in the early morning, and how by 10am practically every citizen – the government claimed a 95% participation rate – had cast their ballot. By noon already the booths were empty.

Kagame has now brought on board the youth and students in the high institutions of learning in his notorious organization Intore now compared to the former Habyarimana Interahamwe who committed Genocide of the Tutsis in 1994 and killed thousands of hundreds of other Rwandans who opposed their brutality. Kagame sounded with panic and paranoia by saying that whoever, dares to challenge his authority will be killed.  I hear people saying “ngo bazatumesa” washing us, if you try and come and destroy this building, I can kill you”, he said. The Rwandan ruler was referring to the new Convention Complex owned by his chain business empire the crystal ventures.

Kagame’s attitude and authoritarian rule is no different from Kim Jong-un of North Korea or the oppression of the former Soviet Union under Stalin. If you see the tone of the newspapers in the country with front pages covered with Photos of President Kagame with rating of 96% you don’t fail to understand the kind of regime you are dealing with.

The eras of the former Yugoslavia, under the dictator Gen. Tito, are no less than those of Gen. Kagame. A lady, who requested me to remain anonymous works of NGO in Rwanda. She had not known about the nature of the government – the international press was so positive. But after meeting some government officials she came home, sat down next to her husband and said to him: “You have to be very careful what you say in this country.” Her husband had been oblivious. She told me it had been the way people spoke, their mannerisms, something about it all; she could sense the repression. To me the dreams of the Rwandan Hero Gen. Fred Rwigyema died with him and the resistance for Rwandans is inevitable.

Jacqueline Umurungi

Brussels