KIGALI, Jan 30 (NNN-RNA) — A senior adviser to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has rubbished reports that he is backing the troubled Green Party of Rwanda to overthrow President Paul Kagame?s government, a plot which purportedly includes senior Rwandan military and political officials.

Dr. John Nagenda says the reports published on Dec 23 on a website, www.256news.com, and several other Internet sites and blogs are not true. He also distances himself from the top Rwandan military officers and politicians named. Dr. Nagenda also says he had intended to visit Rwanda but will no longer do so.

According to the information which is also circulating here, a leaked security brief addressed to President Kagame names several of his former and current close allies as planning to use the Green Party to topple his government.

Those named include former African Union (AU) Commission vice-president Mazimpaka Patrick; former envoy to Japan Dr. Emile Rwamasirabo, who is now a doctor with the elite King Faisal hospital; Senator Colonel Dr. Joseph Karemera; Col. Deogene Mudenge, who is head of RURA; exiled former state minister Sam Nkunsi; and Police Commissioner General, Brig. Gen. Charles Gasana.

Others named are former Rwandan ambassador to Ethiopia Pascal Ngonga; troubled Dr. Maj. Ben Karenzi; vocal Senator Aloysia Inyumba; current envoy to India Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa; Brig. General Richard Rutatina; and other senior officers.

None of these people have come out to say anything about the purported intelligence dossier and the government has also not reacted to the rumour. Controversial local tabloids UMUSESO and UMUVUGIZI published the lists of names.

Another allegation is that Dr. Nagenda is a long-time and close friend to Charles Kabanda, who is the Green Party general-secretary, and Maj.-Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa. It is also claimed Dr. Nagenda is an uncle to youthful Frank Habineza, the Green Party head.

For the Ugandan presidential adviser, Dr. Nagenda, on hearing about the dossier writes ?My first and abiding sentiment was one of total incredulity. How preposterous a notion!?

Writing in the Ugandan newspaper New Vision (which is a public company but partly owned by the government), Dr. Nagenda says he has met General Nyamwasa about only once.

?As for Kabanda, his name doesn?t ring a bell, although I might have talked to him without remembering the name. It was all a long time ago, and in another country,? writes Nagenda.

?Frank Habineza, I know, he worked in my house at Namutamba, on our estate, perhaps 20 years ago. I did help with his school fees. A maternal uncle of his, I have never been. Since he left for Rwanda, I have seen him a few times; the last of which he brought his fiancée for introduction,? Nagenda says.

He adds: ?It is, however, true that from time to time he sent me emails about his life in Rwanda, latterly one or two about the Green Party. I must confess I have not taken his party very seriously. I dimly recall some years ago advising Habineza to stick to work and forget politics. He never struck me as a leader of men, as the saying went!?

?Funnily enough I was thinking of visiting Rwanda (where I was born in ?38 when my parents were missionaries there). Oh well, another time perhaps.?

All the named people are said to be disgruntled members of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) providing the finance and moral support the Green Party. The yet-to-registered party has also denied any links to these people saying it only knows them like other Rwandans. — NNN-RNA

• MP: LEBANESE TROOPS SEARCH FOR ‘TERRORISTS’ ON SYRIA BORDER
• SYRIAN ASSAULT ON HOMS KILLS 50: OPPOSITION
• STEPS UNDERWAY TO GET SRI LANKAN FISHERMEN RELEASED FROM SOMALI CAPTIVES
• NO SPACE FOR TERRORISM, MILITANCY, EXTREMISM IN ISLAM - PAKISTAN PM GILANI
• PRES KARZAI: CAR BOMBING KILLS 9, WOUNDS 19 IN SOUTH AFGHANISTAN