Eyebrows as Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto Separately Meet Museveni at Entebbe State House

 

In one week, President Yoweri Museveni held separate discussions with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.  On Monday, August 7, Uhuru, the Facilitator of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) East African Community (EAC)- led Nairobi Peace Process and Museveni co-chaired a technical committee meeting of the eastern DRC peace process at State House, Entebbe. Before the day's events, Uhuru had the previous day paid a courtesy call on his host. "The two leaders deliberated on the ongoing peace processes geared towards the realisation of a lasting peace and stability in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo," a statement from Uhuru's office read in part. Also, present at the meeting were; Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs, John Mulimba, ambassador Macharia Kamau, and Brigadier (Rtd) Elijah Mwanyika. 

Even before the dust settled, Ruto flew to Entebbe on Sunday, August 13 where he also held talks with Museveni on what he described their engagements as matters of mutual interest, especially trade, security, and agriculture. "Kenya and Uganda have a firm partnership based on decades of East African brotherhood, strong cooperation, and consistent engagement," Ruto said after he meets with Museveni. However, these two consecutive trips to Entebbe by the two top Kenyan leaders have raised eyebrows over their intention. When reached for comment, political analyst and commentator Joseph Simekha told TUKO.co.ke that it's "tricky" for him to comment on terming the meetings as mere speculation. "There are so many reasons for them to meet: from Eastern Congo war challenges to vested interests of the elite in East Africa, to the need for calm and stability in Kenya in the interest of Uganda's economy to things we may not even know about," Simekha said. 

This comes at a time that Peter Mutuku Mathuki - Secretary-General East African Community delivered an address on the status of the East African Community Regional Forces (EACRF) in the Eastern DRC "Without any fear of contradiction, our East African Regional Force is doing a very good job in the Eastern DRC and they are committed to their task. Under the leadership of the chair of the summit President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, he is doing a good job by working with the rest of heads of state to ensure that peace is restored in eastern DEC," said Mathuki. Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, Kamukama Freddie, a senior member of the Muhoozi Kainerugaba Movement maintained that Uhuru was in Kampala to brief Museveni on the peace process in DRC. "He (Uhuru) has been moving around the region meeting heads of state. So, Museveni received a report from Uhuru on what is happening in DRC because Uganda is an interested party with boots on the ground in DRC," Kamukama said.   BY TUKO NEWS