RUKIGA PLU SUPPORTERS PRAISE MUHOOZI OVER UGANDA-RWANDA RELATIONS

By Ambrose Kweronda
www.mknewslink.com
In Rukiga—
Supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda, PLU, in Rukiga District have hailed the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for what they describe as his efforts to promote stability and restore good relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
The supporters were speaking yesterday during the launch of activities to endorse General Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s candidature for the 2031 presidential elections.
The event was held at the office of the Resident District Commissioner in Muhanga Town Council, Rukiga District, and brought together PLU coordinators, youth leaders and other supporters from the Kigezi sub-region.
The supporters said General Kainerugaba’s role in Uganda-Rwanda relations is particularly important to communities in Kigezi, a region that was heavily affected by the closure of the Uganda-Rwanda border.
Uganda and Rwanda closed their common border in 2019 following a deterioration in relations between the two countries.
The closure affected the movement of people and goods and disrupted cross-border trade, particularly around the Katuna-Gatuna border.
The border was reopened on January 31, 2022, following engagements between the two countries, including a visit to Rwanda by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, where he met Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The reopening of the border brought relief to traders and residents in Kigezi who depend on cross-border trade for their livelihoods.
The Rukiga District PLU Coordinator, retired Captain Damson Christmas Kivumba, said the border closure had serious consequences for people in the region.
Kivumba recalled that some people lost their lives at the Kamwezi border area while attempting to engage in illegal cross-border business during the period when the official border crossing was closed.
He said the closure also contributed to a decline in business activities across Kigezi, affecting traders and families whose livelihoods depended on trade with Rwanda.
Captain Kivumba called on residents of Rukiga District to support General Muhoozi Kainerugaba ahead of the 2031 elections.
He described PLU as a pressure group bringing together people from different opposition political parties and said the organisation is not fighting the ruling National Resistance Movement, NRM.
According to Kivumba, PLU is instead working with the NRM and other Ugandans towards what he described as a peaceful transition of power and continuity in 2031.
Kivumba’s remarks were echoed by former Kabale District LC5 Chairman and Kigezi Regional PLU Coordinator, Nelson Nshangabasheija.
Nshangabasheija said members of the public should not interpret PLU activities as a political fight between the organisation and the NRM.
He described PLU and the NRM as one political family and said the endorsement of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is being conducted in different parts of the country.
Nshangabasheija urged the public to understand the mobilisation and endorsement activities as preparations for what he described as a proposed political transition in 2031.
The Kigezi Regional PLU Youth Coordinator, Gloria Kamusiime, also supported the call to endorse General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Kamusiime said young people have a role to play in preparing for what she described as a new phase of leadership in Uganda.
She said the time had come for the NRM to hand over leadership to PLU as part of what she termed continuity.
Kamusiime called on young people in Kigezi to participate in political activities and support what she described as a peaceful transition of leadership.
Meanwhile, the Rukiga Resident District Commissioner, Zadock Kamusiime, has urged residents to support General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whom he described as a son of the revolution.
The RDC also highlighted the reopening of the Uganda-Rwanda border, saying it has helped restore normal relations between the two neighbouring countries.
He said the reopening of the border has been important to communities in Kigezi because of the region’s close social and economic ties with Rwanda.
Kamusiime said Uganda has experienced political instability under previous governments and urged Ugandans to learn from the country’s history.
He called for a peaceful transition and continuity, saying political leaders and citizens should work together to avoid a return to instability.