Museveni’s 20-cow gift to Kagame arrives

The 20 cows that President Yoweri Museveni offered his Rwandan counterpart were Thursday morning received by government officials from the Ministry of Agriculture at Kagitumba border. The head of the livestock department in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Theogene Rutagwenda, who received the cattle, said that they were long-horn cows of quality breed. Museveni pledged the cows during Kagame’s recent visit to Uganda, where the Rwandan head of state and his family spent the Christmas holiday. “These are quality breed local cows and they are coming from President Museveni’s farm in Kisozi, Mpigi District,” he explained. This is the second time the Ugandan head of state had fulfilled his commitments, following the disbursement last year of US$300,000 (about Rw180m), which the Ugandan Head of State donated towards construction of a school in Kicukiro District. Museveni had made the pledge while on a state visit to Rwanda, in July, last year, during the monthly community work (Umuganda) to construct classrooms at Nyarugunga Primary School in Kanombe Sector. Rutagwenda explained the gesture as the consolidation of a relationship not only between two friendly leaders, but also the citizens of both countries. President Kagame had also earlier given 10 long horned cattle, commonly known as Inyambo, to his counterpart when the two leaders visited Kagame’s farm located on the shores of Lake Muhazi, Kayonza District in the Eastern Province. Kagame is set to be recognised in the forthcoming celebrations to mark the 26th anniversary of National Resistance Movement (NRM), for his role in the liberation of Uganda. eric.kabeera@newtimes.co.rw