By George Asiimwe
Andrew Mwenday says he’s missed two more meetings of President Paul Kagame’s advisers
Ugandan veteran Journalist Andrew Mwenda has opened up on speculation that was sparked by this absence at the meeting of Rwanda President Paul Kagame’s advisers in New York.
Mwenda was noticeably absent as Kagame addressed his 23-man team of advisors in New York, USA, on Sunday.
Mr Mwenda was appointed to the 23-man Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) in 2011 during one of their annual meetings in New York.
PAC is a group of experts in different fields and of different nationalities who offer strategic advice to the President and the Government of Rwanda.
In the wake of the heightened tensions between Uganda and Rwanda this year, the absence of Mwenda at the New York meeting prompted suggestions that he’d been dropped from the committee.
Speaking to ChimpReports on Monday however, Mr Mwenda dismissed reports that he’d been dropped.
“I am not aware; I have not been informed that I was removed,” he said.
Pressed on why he missed the meeting on Sunday, Mwenda said he’d skipped a couple more.
“I have not been attending the presidential advisory committee meetings for the last two years now,” he said without providing reasons.
It is understood however, that Mr Mwenda pulled back to allow the leaders of Uganda and Rwanda space to engage and come up with solutions on the diplomatic impasse between the two nations.
Other members on the PAC include Andrea Redmond, Ashish Thakkar, Christian Angermayer, Dr Clet Niyikiza, Dale Dawson, Dr Donald Kaberuka, Dr Éliane Ubalijoro, Bishop John Rucyahana, Kaia Miller, Michael Fairbanks, Prof. Michael Porter, Michael Roux, Dr Paul Davenport, Pastor Rick Warren and Scott Ford.
In his speech, Mr Kagame praised his advisors for their support, which he said has facilitated inclusive growth for all Rwandans, be it in urban or rural set-ups.
“After so many years of being together in PAC, things keep changing and they change for the better. People have been working hard, and the people of Rwanda have been a central part of this story,” he said.
“Today, we can say that we have good news in a sense of where the country is. We are not yet there as we all know, but we have made progress. It is still work in progress,” he added.
“Whether it’s education, coffee, or any kind of support, it has become a real life story that people tell. They tell you where they have been, where they are and how they made it to where they are now,” he added.
Mr Kagame is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.