Across the border in Rwanda, things don't seem to be that well. Two senior army officers who helped in the fairy story that formed the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa and Col. Patrick Karegeya, were the untouchables of Kigali.
Their names invoked a lot of fear in the other mortals of the country. Even seen from afar, no one could fail to notice how well Rwanda's systems worked; the intelligence, the police, etc.
So, how did the authorities there miss to discover that a senior army officer and ambassador to India could have been planning to run away?
Could it be that Faustin Nyamwasa, the man who badly humiliated UPDF in the Kisangani clashes, well aware of the nature of the operations in his mother country, decided to dupe Kigali and instead passed where no one would suspect?
You see, it can actually be easy. You send your driver in a certain direction and you take another. As for getting out of Rwanda through Uganda, there are many routes one can use. There is the Kyanika border in Kisoro; there is Katuna in Kabale and Kagitumba close to Ntungamo.
I remember one time driving to Kigali from Kampala. It normally takes forty-five minutes to reach Kigali from the border. But midway to our destination, we stopped to fix a puncture. It took us about fifteen minutes to replace the tyre.
As we approached Kigali, a traffic police officer stopped us. He inquired whether we had insurance, etc. Those questions were directed to the driver. Satisfied with the answers, he then came to my side. He asked for my passport.
I asked him why since my passport had nothing to do with traffic. He then asked me whether I was called Dismas Nkunda. I told him he was damn right. And then this: “You were supposed to have arrived in Kigali some twenty minutes ago.”
I asked him whether he knew what time I left Katuna. And he knew the time. I had told him that we had to stop to fix a puncture. Then he asked how long it took to fix the tyre. About fifteen minutes, I told him.
Then he tries some apology. He tells me to enjoy my stay at Meridien Hotel. As we began driving off, I could not help but think how someone who was only supposed to patrol the roads could know so much detail; my name, the time I left Katuna and the time I was supposed to be in Kigali, and most importantly, the hotel I was to stay in!
Which then brings me to the question: if a nobody like me can be so closely shadowed, how did the likes of Nyamwasa and Karegeya manage to beat the security of Rwanda which has overly been praised as one of the best in the region?
During the bruising war that brought RPF into power, the rebels, who of course included Nyamwasa, camped in the forests on Mount Muhabura for months and months. And it's easy for one to pass through Kisoro as there are many paths that litter the border between the two countries. You actually do not need a passport to cross to Rwanda and vice versa unless you look a foreigner to the people there.
While in Uganda you do not need to have an identity card to jump onto the many buses that ply the Kampala-Kisoro route. And of course the General knows his old colleagues in Uganda, especially his hall mates in Lumumba at Makerere University where he read law. But the real question to ask is what is going wrong or right in Rwanda?
Why all the fallouts? Is there something inherently wrong that we can't see with our naked eyes? Yes, elections are coming up in August which everyone knows President Paul Kagame will win for another seven-year term.
We also know that there is a new entrant in the race; a lady called Victoire Ingabire who has been rubbing the leadership in Kigali the wrong way.
Now word has it that another ambassador, the one to the Netherlands, has decided to seek asylum in Ireland for aiding and providing Ingabire with the passport that allowed her to return to Rwanda.
You may want to ask why one should care about what happens in Rwanda; but once a neighbour begins to sneeze know that the flu is fast approaching you too! The author is a human rights expert and specialist on refugee issues
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Let Andrew Mwenda tell us written by Mukalazi , March 10, 2010
Dismus has got a very important question here but I think the only authority with expertise in Rwanda's affairs is Andrew Mwenda. May be we shall hear from him sooner other than later.
what's happening in Rwanda is clear written by RR2 , March 10, 2010
It's clear that Kagame's regime days are numbered,once the UK and the US turn their back on him,he will end up like Saddam.
Political Twins written by Jeff Kigoli , March 10, 2010
Political opponents in Rwanda and Uganda, are considered to be enemies of the state by the incumbent. Dimas, are your familiar with the declaration, We'll crush them?
Mr written by kabayekka , March 11, 2010
Indeed Mr Nkunda the sort of brand of politics these guys came with has been tolerated enough. If they have forgotten to go back to their homes well somebody somewhere has got to show them that.
Some body shld email this to Gen Nyamwasa & Kargeya!! written by MABO , March 11, 2010
This is a good article;citing excesse committed by over zealous guys whn they are in the "inner-circle"! In the media Rwanda has been held high courtesy of foreign & local media & journalist. Either wht they state is true or exeggerated. If its exegerated then still rwanda deserves credit for investing heavily to get good PR. However critical analysis & solutions of local dynamic in social & political life need attention lest the Hitler of media antics( by Goebess!!) get repeated wth disastrous effects. Had the current scenarios(a General escaping,ambasadors "running",journalist arrested,bomb attacks) happened to uganda;every cable,facebook,twitter would be probably jammed now wth all sorts of conspiracy theories & concocted "inteligence reports leaks" etc!!! Am kindly requesting tht those(readers) who have the emails of the mentioned guys above,please send them this article. Its real food for thought for those purged & those still loyal to Mr Kagame.The best thing for rwanda(my humble opinion) is to reconcille wth these people peacefully progressively not war or violence. Uganda is & will always be friendly & brother to Rwanda. A stable/vibrant uganda & Rwanda is mutually benficial economically & strategically evidenced by uganda's resolute spt to RPF/RPA physically & emotionally depsite the indiference & passivity of reknown "big" states & NGOs e.g OAU,SADC,ECOWAS,UN etc this ACTION alone parmanently bonded uganda-rwanda as true brothers & friendly neighbours. I wish rwandese a peacefull elections in Aug 2010. For God & my country.
Rwanda a police state written by Abubaker Basajjabaka , March 11, 2010
There were always rosy praises that emerged out of a tiny country that was in most cases compared with our poor Uganda. A friend once told me that Rwanda perfects what has failed in Uganda to earn a name for herself.
Today, it looks like President Paul Kagame is succumbing to acts that are intended to keep him in power. We need to consider routinely, why, according to your article Rwanda has resorted to being a police state than we earlier anticipated.
One thing for sure is that power like a flower, blossoms and withers.
Mr written by Ricardomana , March 11, 2010
Thanks for the article. Those questions dont make sense to anyone who has never lived in Rwanda. But tyr living in Rwanda and you will see a lot of sense in this article.
Those who praise the regime, are not aware of what is cooking in there. The problem there is that Mr. Kagame has tried to wash the outter part of the cup to please people who see it from outside, but inside, the cup is soooo duty.
Ask yourself why there are more Rwandese living in Uganda and neighbouring countries than Rwanda? Lets pray Genocide doesnt come knocking very soon.
Enigmatic Rwanda written by beebwa , March 11, 2010
"Is there something inherently wrong that we can't see with our naked eyes?" Yes there is, and don`t worry you`ll see it.
About the micro-management in Rwanda, you seem to forget two things about the country: 1. how small Rwanda actually is, (the entire country is smaller than Selous National Park in Tanzania)and,
2. the fact that it`s occupied by just one tribe. You can call and talk to someone in Kigali from Gatuna by walkie-talkie, so the policemen were actually discussing your progress from the border to Kigali.
How and why was it easy for the General to escape? Have you ever found out why no one was arrested or demoted when Dr Besigye escaped from Uganda? A Mukiga will tell you: "Siiba aho!!!"
lift term limits written by milly , March 11, 2010
Just wait after the august 2010 elections in Rwanda when the term limits will be lifted!!!!!
we knew it written by solomon base , March 11, 2010
u always make me laugh my brother,u have been singing praises for kagame all along but u cant even solve the puzzle yo self .twabagamba
Rwanda's politics have no formula! written by deontwali , March 11, 2010
Ladies and gentlemen!i have a question for you!are you ready?who can tell me the formula of politics in rwanda?
who of you have followed the three comedians namely;Louse Mushikiwabo-ariko nibande? Martin Ngoga-the sentimental DPP-i am yet to find atleast one reasonable politician in kigali govenrment-nako(rather)
guys-don't "think" because you wakeup and find your self sacked and taken to 1930 under cookedup-i don't-charges.Then there comes MENSEUR Ngarambe(secretary for RPF)!alas-this man literary bucked,while adressing journalist.
I couldn't help but laugh when I had him over the BBC-then comes mon major-Rutaremara Jill-Who ever told you to write the article in TheNewTimes,WAS MISLEADING YOU.REPENT!!!!.
Oh God! then comes His Excellency the President,"the omniscient","there can ever be a coup in Rwanda!oh how naive!atleast,iam not party to that thinking!my advise is never say never.Mana ube hafi maze utabare abakunva.(God be near and save those who trust in you).
Wish i would see Mwenda and put it in his face written by BADNOSE , March 11, 2010
I love the U-turn journalists take when things seem not to be as they potray them or when looking for stories.
I remember at one point i hated hearing the word Rwanda simply because of our own Ugandan Journalists whom at times one would think work for the neighbouring state or even have Rwandesse passports.
Everything Mwenda and the likes plus Besigye said was in comparison of Rwanda as if it was more holy than the bible. But now they are quick to ask whats happening in Rwanda. You guys should listen to Bebe cool's Kasepiki maybe u might pick a lesson or two
... written by Jim Kamezza , March 11, 2010
Kagame and m7 are going , they represent no solution and neither future for their countries ,they are 2 failed hopeless men who believed more in personal control than collective responsibility
R.P.F non-African Politics written by Mukiza , March 12, 2010
Why all the fallouts? asks the Mufumbira, Dismas Nkunda. Am puzzled by the absence of logic in such a question cause by now one must have got the answer.
The "fallouts" as many now call them are to me a symbol of strength and steadfastness of the R.P.F. That unlike other political groupings it has no room for patronage and entitlement that has come to characterize many African political organizations.
But i understand it when an African gets puzzled by the so-called "fallouts" espeacially when that African is Ugandan.They are not used to it and they will never will.
For years,Museveni and his Men have succeeded in "protecting each other" from any criminal responsibility.
When Jim Muhwezi steals large sums of money from the Health Ministry,Museveni woild protect his long time comrade arguing that he is a cadre.
When Kuteesa Sam is censored for corruption,Museveni calls him back and promotes him.After all didn't he fight? When Amama Mbabazi sells "air" as Land leading to a financial loss of billions of shillings,Museveni protects his comrade in arms shielding him from any form of prosecution... To many Africans, this is what passes for a normal good Government...
When a Rwandan General has his ill gotten Land confiscated and re-distributed to its deserving owners,to many Africans this is witch hunt.After all a General is General and is supposed to be above the Law.
But Rwanda and the R.P.F see it differently.May be the R.P.F is playing foreign politics that many of them Africans can't understand.
R.P.F non-African Politics written by Dave , March 12, 2010
Amen Mukiza!!!!
Egocentrism! written by GAKIRE , March 13, 2010
what is going in Rwanda is sheer power greedy, and this is ruinining our future generations to come. all this comes from suspicion nothing else, Dismas!
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
