Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, arrived in Kigali on Sunday in advance of the birthday celebrations that Rwandan President Paul Kagame will hold on April 24.
Norbert Mao, the minister of justice and constitutional affairs, and Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, the security minister, accompanied the general when he landed at Kigali International Airport.
The veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda, Kitgum Woman MP Lillian Aber, his cousin Alexander Mukonzi Akandwanaho, businessman Geoffrey Kalugira, engineer Joel Aita, and attorney Elison Karuhanga are among the other members of the general’s entourage.
Gen Kainerugaba and his team were received by the Commander of the Rwandan Republican Guard Maj Gen Willy Rwagasana and the Rwanda Defence Forces Spokesman Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga.
On Monday, President Kagame will host the Ugandan General and his delegation for a dinner to mark his 49th birthday.
Despite this being about General MK’s birthday, more high-level talks to further improve the relations between Uganda and Rwanda are expected to take place.
Last year, Gen Kainerugaba visited Rwanda three times with the initial visit to Kigali leading to the reopening of the Gatuna border which had been closed for three years.
On Gen MK’s 48th birthday, the Rwandan president also traveled to Kampala to attend a state dinner.
President Kagame had numerous conversations with his Ugandan counterpart. President Kagame participated in the 1981–1986 bush war in Uganda.
Gen. Kainerugaba noted that trade between Uganda and Rwanda has significantly increased since the reopening of the Gatuna border, reaching an all-time high of $20 million in business transactions every month during the Rukundo Egumeho Thanksgiving Concert held on Wednesday, April 19, in Kabale.
Gen MK estimated the yearly trade at $200 million, or $17 million per month, prior to the suspension.
According to documents from the Bank of Uganda, the amount was $60,000 during the time the border was closed.
