Museveni Invites Ruto To Uganda

Uganda's President, Yoweri Museveni has extended an invite to President William Ruto to Uganda for its Independence Day celebrations on Sunday, October 9, in what is viewed as another move by the country to cut down on frosty diplomatic relations.

According to reports, Ruto is among the dignitaries invited by the Ugandan president for the celebrations in honour of the country celebrating 60 years of independence. He will be expected to depart the day before, on Saturday, October 8.

Museveni has been in power in Uganda since January 29, 1986, which makes him one of Africa's longest-serving presidents.

Uganda president, Yoweri Museveni, speaking during a past event. /FILE

He enjoys a healthy relationship with President Ruto since the first term of the previous Jubilee administration. The relationship between the two, which had started raising eyebrows, forced Museveni late in August to announce that his government would not take sides in the just concluded elections.

The Ugandan Head of State was forced to clean up the diplomatic mess between Nairobi and Kampala, triggered by remarks made by his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba on Twitter, especially insinuating that it would take him and his army two weeks to capture the Kenyan capital.

Museveni asked Kenyans to forgive his son for his remarks which caused an uproar across the East African nation.

"Dear Ugandans, the brotherly People of Kenya and all East Africans. I greet all of you. Again, I hail the peaceful elections that took place in Kenya recently where H.E. William Ruto emerged as the winner.

"I, again, congratulate him on that victory. I ask our Kenyan brothers and sisters to forgive us for tweets sent by General Muhoozi, former Commander of Land Forces here, regarding the election matters in that great country," he stated on Wednesday, October 5.

Museveni noted that it was not correct for Public officers, be they civilian or military, to comment or interfere in any way, in the internal affairs of brother countries and that the only available legitimate forum is the Peer Review Mechanism of the African Union or confidential interactions among us or EAC and AU fora –not public comments.

"Why, then, promote him to full General after these comments? This is because this mistake is one aspect where he has acted negatively as a Public officer. There are, however, many other positive contributions the General has made and can still make.

"This is a time-tested formula –discourage the negative and encourage the positive. Very sorry, ndugu zetu Wakenya. Also sorry to the Ugandans who could have been annoyed by one of their officials meddling in the affairs of brother Kenya," Museveni defended his son's promotion to full General.

In an earlier statement, the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) Spokesperson Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye stated that Muhoozi has no powers to declare war on any country.