EXCLUSIVE: Stormy State House Meeting as Museveni Orders Closure of Selfworth’s “Advocacy Wing” to Reinstate Rwanda Ties

President Museveni has directed two activists, Sulah Nuwamanya and Prossy Boonabana to close the advocacy part of their non-governmental organisation (NGO), Selfworth Initiative, as part of a confidence-building measure to restore relations between Uganda and Rwanda.

The head-of-state gave the order during a high level security meeting held at State House Entebbe on Monday, February 24.

“Now, the Rwandans are saying you are supporting RNC (Rwanda National Congress). You need to close this organisation,” said Museveni.

During the meeting attended by security chiefs including Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi and Chief of Military Intelligence Brig Abel Kandiho among others, Boonabana said they had nothing to do with RNC.

Boonabana, whose husband Rwema Gendarme was kidnapped by Rwandan agents in 2015 and is said to be held by security services in Kigali, told Museveni that SelfWorth Initiative exists to create awareness about the untold suffering of women occasioned by the kidnapping of their husbands by Rwandan agents.

Boonabana said the NGO also provides support for widows whose spouses were killed in Rwanda.

Also in attendance was Phiona Barungi, whose husband Bosco Ndahiro was reportedly killed in Rwanda.

As Boonabana spoke, Barungi wept uncontrollably.

Museveni had to intervene to comfort Barungi, who said the President should not forsake them.

“We are hounded by Rwanda. You have a duty to protect us,” she cried.

On her part, Boonabana said she had never joined any form of activism until her husband was kidnapped.

She wondered why Uganda was not pressing Kigali to release Rwema but wanted her to keep quiet.

“What is Uganda getting in exchange since Uganda seems to accept all Rwandan demands?” wondered Prossy as a bewildered Museveni took notes.

An official who attended, but spoke on condition of anonymity, said Boonabana and other victims of Rwandan agents spoke candidly without fear.

Sulah Nuwamanya

Security chiefs looked on in awe as civilians told the President he had to act firmly against Rwanda.

Many told the president that their hearts were “heavy” and that he had to allow them pour out their frustration and anger.

“Our husbands are still incarcerated in Kigali safe houses,” said Boonabana, adding, “Your Excellency, what are you doing about it?”

President Museveni used humour to diffuse the tension in the meeting, saying Boonabana should not “just go on the roadside and keep complaining to whoever you meet that my husband was taken.”

Museveni was also informed that it’s not only Barungi and Boonabana whose husbands were taken by Rwandan agents but also 75 others.

A startled Museveni said he didn’t know about “this large number.”

During the meeting, officials from External Security Organisation said they were yet to pick information that SelfWorth leaders were obtaining money from foreign funders for subversive activities.

Rwanda recently demanded that SelfWorth be disbanded and its leaders held accountable for reportedly supporting RNC which Kigali considers a “terrorist” organisation.

SelfWorth said whereas some of its members of staff have been victims of the excesses of the Government of Rwanda, “we want to make it very clear in no uncertain terms that we are not members of any Rwandan political party either inside or outside Rwanda.”

Give peace a chance

Reassuring that “no one can dare Uganda”, Museveni urged the activists at the Entebbe meeting to “give peace a chance.”

He said Rwanda was complaining about SelfWorth Initiative whose actions he said should be well managed to resolve the bad bilateral relations affecting trade and movement of people.

“If you people are not involved in this RNC thing, then stop your advocacy and keep the humanitarian aspect of the NGO. Just be humanitarian. Don’t go into other things because we need peace,” Museveni counseled.

Killings

ChimpReports has learned that during the meeting, Sulah Nuwamanya, who also fled Kigali where he was employed as a communications official, told Museveni that “all Kagame is looking for is a legal way to resume his killings against refugees and asylum seekers and all his perceived critics in Uganda.”

Nuwamanya said since Museveni brought on board a new security team, abduction of Rwandan refugees reduced, angering Kigali.

Museveni was also informed that Rwandan media outlets were orchestrating a propaganda campaign targeting his family and government officials.

In response, Museveni said: “I don’t care Rwandans insulting me. That’s their business.”

He, however, requested Ugandans to “be patient in your replies without giving Rwanda an excuse to propagate dirt against Uganda.”

Uganda’s ambassador to United Nations, Adonia Ayebare also attended the meeting.

He advocated for the “complete closure” of SelfWorth, saying it was destroying Uganda’s relations with Rwanda.

Ayebare, who is a special envoy to Rwanda, also implied that a war with Rwanda would possibly drag in other countries in the region and that consequences would be dire.

Officials who attended the session quietly accused Adonia of propagating the Rwandan narrative instead of championing Uganda’s interests.

Other high level officials who attended the heated meeting include Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa, State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Philemon Mateke, Internal Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odong among others.

The meeting, which lasted more than two hours, ended with a resolution that SelfWorth closes its advocacy wing to “give peace a chance.”