KIGALI | The Chief of Defense Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, ahead of President Paul Kagame's swearing-in ceremony, scheduled to take place tomorrow at Amahoro Stadium.
Accompanying Gen Kainerugaba are Major-General James Birungi and Brigadier-General Richard Karemire.
President Kagame takes oath of office for the fourth time tomorrow, this time for a five-year tenure after a constitutional change revised the presidential term from seven years.
The presence of Gen Muhoozi and his delegation at the ceremony highlights the close and often complex relationship between Uganda and Rwanda, two neighboring countries with deep historical ties.
Upon their arrival, Muhoozi and his accompanying officers were received by high-ranking Rwandan officials led by Gen Mubarakh Muganga, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Forces, signaling the importance of their visit.
Their participation in the event is seen as a gesture of goodwill and an affirmation of the continued efforts to strengthen diplomatic and military cooperation between the two nations.
Relations between Uganda and Rwanda have seen periods of tension in recent years, but the presence of Gen Muhoozi and his team at this significant occasion is being interpreted as a positive step toward fostering regional stability and cooperation.
When Uganda and Rwanda kept apart for two years from January 2020, it was Muhoozi's visit to Kigali that ultimately thawed the frozen relations in January 2022.
President Kagame's swearing-in ceremony is expected to be attended by numerous dignitaries and leaders from across Africa and beyond, highlighting Rwanda's growing influence on the continental stage.
The ceremony will take place at Amahoro Stadium, a venue with historical significance, where thousands of Rwandans are expected to gather to witness the event.
The atmosphere is expected to be one of celebration as the nation looks forward to another term under President Kagame's leadership.
General Kainerugaba's attendance, along with Major General Birungi and Brigadier General Karemire, serves as a reminder of the intertwined destinies of Uganda and Rwanda and a potential harbinger of further collaboration between the two nations in the years to come.
