Had it not been President Paul Kagame’s intervention, the struggle to liberate Rwanda by RPF would have failed, RDF’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba said on Monday.
RDF Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba (middle) with other RDF Senior officers leading a delegation of Journalists during a tour
Speaking to local and foreign Journalists during the official launch of “Liberation Tour Phase One” at Kagitumba border-the initial base of RPF/A struggle, on Monday, Gen. Nyamvumba said there was nobody else to re-organise soldiers following death of the first RPF/A commander Maj. Gen. Fred Rwigyema on October 2, 1990.
Gen. Fred Rwigema was killed by a stray enemy bullet at Nyabwishongwezi hill-just a day after the attack.
Following the death of Fred Rwigyema, Majors Chris Bunyenyezi and Peter Bayigana, both senior commanders, died in an enemy ambush around Lyabega on October 23,
“The army was demoralized. But Kagame came and changed everything. He immediately changed the military base from Kagitumba to Byumba (Mulindi) which harboured the best terrain for attacks,” said Nyamvumva amidst a wave of questions from local and foreign Journalists.
Gen. Nyamvumba who led the tour along senior RDF officers including Lt. Gen. Fred Ibingira, Maj. Gen. Sam Kaka; Col(Rtd) Twahirwa Dodo and other high ranking army officers, remembered those who died during the struggle with reminiscence.
He, however, told Journalists that all those who died in the liberation struggle did not die for nothing, as what they died for has been accomplished.
“The struggle was successful. And since the RPF/A took over under President Kagame, the Country has made remarkable development,”
A cave in Mulindi, Northern Province of Rwanda which acted as President Kagame’s office during the Liberation struggle
During the tour, Journalists were given a guided tour around key RPF/A military bases around the Country, and were briefed by the then Commanders other RPA contingents that captured different key areas. The areas toured include Kagitumba, Nyagatare, Gabiro, Musanze and Mulindi which was the main RPF/A headquarters during the struggle.
According to Maj Gen Sam Kaka who led a battalion of soldiers who attacked Nyagatare District, they attacked Kagitumba because it was poorly guarded.
He said they also wanted to secure the border areas of Tanzania and Burundi to give opportunity to other Rwandans who wanted to join the struggle from these countries to do so; a goal they also reached.