EXCLUSIVE: Museveni Warned on ‘Rwanda’s Plan to Capture Kabale, Kisoro’

President Museveni has warned that attacking Uganda would be suicidal amid growing tensions with Rwanda.

Museveni, who held a meeting of security chiefs on February 24 at State House Entebbe, said “no one can threaten Uganda’s sovereignty.”

It all started with Minister for Regional Cooperation, Dr Philemon Mateke, telling Museveni during the meeting that there were reports that Rwanda wants to capture some parts of South western Uganda.

Museveni was informed that while touring areas bordering Uganda, Kagame threatened to use military means to annex Kabale and Kisoro.

A startled Museveni exclaimed: “Hmm, what? I don’t think Paul (Kagame) can say that.”

Museveni then blew his nose before emphasising: “Let him (Kagame) try. He can’t. I don’t even think he can say that.”

Mateke, the most influential leader from Kisoro, had earlier during the meeting wondered why Museveni was “handing over our sovereignty” by acquiescing to all demands by Rwanda when “Uganda was not getting anything in return.”

Mateke is bitter with Rwanda whose security forces have in recent months killed six Ugandans for reportedly being involved in smuggling.

Kigali accuses Mateke of helping Rwandan rebels, claims he has dismissed as “baseless’ and aimed at “justifying plans to eliminate me.”

Museveni concerns

ChimpReports understands Museveni then asked External Security Organisation (ESO) chief Joseph Ochwet to respond to Mateke’s concerns that Kagame has been planning a surprise military attack during which he would annex some parts of South Western Uganda.

“As far as I am concerned,” said Ochwet as generals listened attentively, “There is no documented evidence – not even a video showing Kagame made these remarks.”

Ochwet added: “There was a post on social media about this subject but there is no evidence.”

Museveni interjected: “There is no one who can threaten Uganda’s sovereignty. Uganda? Nobody.”

The four-hour meeting, which ended at around 8:00pm, was called to address Kampala’s concerns that Uganda is helping Rwandan dissidents who are grouping in DRC to train and topple Kagame by force of arms.

Kigali maintains Uganda has been supporting Rwanda National Congress (RNC), a diaspora-based opposition movement led by dissident General Kayumba Nyamwasa.

Uganda has since denied the claims and invited Rwanda to participate in a joint verification exercise.

Kampala accuses Kigali of uprooting Ugandans from the Rwandan economy; slapping a trade embargo on Ugandan goods; closing the Ugandan common border

Senior officials who attended the meeting include Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa, Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi, CMI boss Brig Abel Kandiho, ISO chief Brig Kaka Bagyenda and Museveni’s special envoy to Rwanda, Amb Adonia Ayebare.

Others were Internal Affairs Minister Jeje Odong and his Security counterpart, Gen Elly Tumwiine.