By KT Reporter
The defence forces of Uganda and Rwanda will participate in the first-ever sports and civil activities aimed at fostering peace, unity, and collaboration.
The 5th Infantry Division of the Rwanda Defence Forces will be hosted by their counterparts from the 2nd Infantry Division football club at Kyamate playground in Ntugamo Municipality. The event that will be held on Saturday marks the first-ever joint military sports engagement between the UPDF and RDF since the initiation of the proximity commanders’ engagements.
The spokesperson for the 2nd Division army, Kiconco Tabaro, says that this is the first-ever sports activity conducted between the two countries, noting that it will be a historic event for both formations and units.
Kiconco says that the RDF football team will be welcomed in Uganda by Maj Gen Paul Muhanguzi, the UPDF 2 Infantry Division Commander, along with local leaders. Additionally, both teams will participate in Civil-Military Cooperation activities, which will include a route match in Ntugamo town, tree planting and blood donation.
Kiconco says the match is a culmination of prior engagements between UPDF 2nd Infantry Division and RDF 5th Infantry Division, which took place on various dates in the Republic of Rwanda and Uganda.
The engagements are aimed at streamlining border security issues such as combating crime by promoting security measures, encouraging cooperation with border communities and other relevant stakeholders among others.
The sports activities were recommended by the commanders of both forces in the subsequent meetings held in Rwanda and Uganda.
Uganda and Rwanda are steadily restoring their relationships following the closure of the border in 2019.
In 2019, Rwandan President Paul Kagame ordered the closure of the border after accusing Ugandan authorities of spying on Rwanda, abducting Rwandan citizens and locking them in non-designated areas, as well as hosting and facilitating dissidents who have declared war on the Kigali administration-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
