Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has reiterated that Kenya and the neighboring Uganda will continue being close friends.
Ruto, who jetted out to Uganda on Saturday, spent the night in the President Yoweri Museveni-led nation ahead of Sunday Independence Day celebration in which he will be a party to.
The Kenyan president in his statement exuded confidence that the two nations’ bilateral ties will continue to be strong.
“Had a great meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House, Entebbe, Uganda, ahead of tomorrow’s 60th Independence Day celebrations. The Kenya – Uganda bond is growing stronger,” he wrote on Facebook.
The visit comes hot on a heels of a diplomatic tiff threat that was occasioned by controversial tweets made by Museveni’s son Muhoozi Kaineguraba.
His threat to capture Nairobi with his army in less than two weeks sparked uproar among Kenyan with some even demanding that the Kenyan ambassador to Uganda should be recalled.
Museveni, however, tendered his apology to Kenya and disassociated Uganda from the tweets.
“I ask our Kenyan brothers and sisters to forgive us for tweets sent by General Muhoozi, former Commander of Land Forces, regarding the election matters in that great country. It is not correct for public officers, be they civilian or military, to comment or interfere in any way, in the internal affairs of brother countries,” he said.
“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.”
On Monday, Kainerugaba claimed that he could lead the country’s military in an expansionist invasion of Kenya.
He claimed it would take him less than two weeks to capture the capital, Nairobi, and then treat the country as one of Ugandan districts.
“It wouldn’t take us, my army and I, two weeks to capture Nairobi,” he tweeted on his official account.
He also commented on the general election that saw Ruto declared winner, saying that he was disappointed the rule of law and constitutionalism were upheld.
Until Tuesday evening, Kainerugaba was a Lieutenant General and commander of the UPDF’s land forces.
He has since been promoted to a full general but relieved of command duties.
He however remains the senior presidential advisor on special military operations.
Museveni justified the promotion, saying that though the comments by his son were out of turn, it is only one aspect where he has acted negatively as a public officer.
“Why, then, promote him to full General after these comments? 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,” he said.
“I know for a fact that General Muhoozi is a passionate pan-Africanist. However, the correct method for PanAfricanists is confidential interactions or using the available fora (EAC and AU), especially if you are a public officer.”
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