Uganda Foreign Minister Kutesa Goes To Tanzania With “Special Message”

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has sent a “special message” to Tanzania counterpart John Pombe Magufuli.

The message was delivered yesterday evening by Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa. He met President Magufuli in Dar as Salaam.

Kutesa was with Uganda’s envoy Richard Kabonero, who previously served in Rwanda for many years.

Kabonero posted a picture on Twitter after the meeting. No further details were given.

All signs point to possible discussion on the worsening Rwanda-Uganda relations.

The Rwandan government accuses Uganda’s leadership of what have been summed as “three outstanding issues”: supporting Rwandan dissidents, kidnapping more than 900 Rwandan and torturing them, blocking Rwandan exports.

President Paul Kagame made an impromptu trip there on March 7-8, after coming from South Africa for talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Rwandan dissidents are operating between Uganda and South Africa.

Since then, there is intense shuttle diplomacy ongoing within the region. Already Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has been to Rwanda and Uganda.

Uganda’s foreign minister Kutesa has himself released two statements about Rwanda, instead accusing Rwanda of imposing ” trade embargo ” on Uganda.

However, Rwanda fired back on Thursday accusing the Ugandan government of not addressing the real issues, instead diverting attention.