On October 1,1990 over 10,000 National Resistance Army troops invaded the northern part of Rwanda with intentions to oust the then President of the country, Pasteur Bizimungu. and force their return into their country of origin.

This invasion was commanded by Maj.Gen. Fred Gisa Rwigyema. He and his soldiers attacked Rwanda through the border points at both Byumba and Naguma .Sadly on the second day of the invasion, Rwigyema died under mysterious circumstances. Today, October 2,2024,marks 34 years since his fall.

Those who fought alongside him and those he led all refer to him as “god of war” because of his special attributes at the frontlines but who was Rwigyema?

Fred Gisa Rwigema, born Emmanuel Gisa on April 10, 1957, was a prominent Rwandan military officer and the revolutionary founder of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). This political and rebel group was established by Rwandan Tutsi exiles, descendants of those displaced during the 1959 Hutu Revolution.

Born in Gitarama, Rwanda, Rwigema’s family fled to Uganda in 1960 settling in a refugee camp in Nshungerezi after the Rwandan Revolution. After completing high school in 1976, he joined the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) in Tanzania. This was a rebel group led by Yoweri Museveni and adopted the name Fred Rwigyema. He later fought with FRELIMO rebels in Mozambique against Portuguese colonial rule.

In 1979, he joined the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and participated in the overthrow of Idi Amin. Rwigyema then joined Museveni’s National Resistance Army (NRA), engaging in the Ugandan Bush War against Milton Obote’s government where he fought alongside future RPF leaders, including Paul Kagame.

After the NRA took power in 1986, Rwigyema became Deputy Minister of Defence, actively participating in military operations against residual forces of the ousted regime. By 1985, he had risen to a significant military leader being commissioned as a Major General alongside Museveni. Known as “Mungu wa vita” (“god of war”), he gained respect for his leadership and integrity in counterinsurgency operations in northern Uganda.

On October 1, 1990, Rwigema led a splinter group of 10,000 NRA troops in an invasion of northern Rwanda, initiating the Rwandan Civil War. He was shot and killed on the second day of the conflict under disputed circumstances; official accounts stated it was a stray bullet while some historians suggest he was killed by a subordinate during a tactical disagreement. His death was kept secret for a month to maintain morale among troops.

Rwigyema is regarded as a national hero in Rwanda and is buried at the Heroes Cemetery in Kigali.

The U.S. presidential race is proving to be highly competitive, with polls indicating a tight contest just two days before the first and potentially only televised debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Recent surveys show that Trump commands unwavering support from roughly half of voters, despite his status as a convicted criminal and his role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election results.

Harris, who entered the race after President Biden dropped out in July, has quickly evolved from a largely overlooked vice president to a credible challenger. However, current polling suggests she has yet to achieve a significant breakthrough, resulting in a neck-and-neck race. A Siena College poll indicates Trump leads Harris nationally by a narrow margin of 48 to 47 percent, well within the margin of error.

U.S. presidential elections rely on state-by-state outcomes rather than the national popular vote, making key swing states crucial. The polling suggests that Harris holds a slight advantage in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, while being tied in several other pivotal states, including Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona. A YouGov poll also shows Harris ahead by one percentage point in Michigan and Wisconsin, and tied in Pennsylvania.

The electoral landscape remains chaotic, with Biden, at 81 years old, having exited the race amid age-related concerns, and Trump narrowly surviving an assassination attempt at a rally. There are also persistent fears regarding Trump’s potential refusal to concede if he loses in November.

Despite the tumult, both candidates appear to have solidified loyal bases, resulting in a nearly even split among voters. Trump will be under pressure to moderate his typically aggressive style in the presence of Harris, who is vying to become the first female president of the United States.

Harris aims at delivering an optimistic, forward-looking message that contrasts sharply with Trump’s dire warnings about the future of the country without his leadership. Nonetheless, she has faced criticism for her focus on unity and optimism at the expense of concrete policies. In response to these critiques, her campaign released a policy platform addressing issues such as unions, cost-of-living concerns, and healthcare.

Navigating the debate will be a challenge for Harris, as Trump is known for making false statements and provoking his opponents. Biden struggled in his only debate against Trump, illustrating the difficulty Harris may face.

Trump has also subjected Harris to racist and sexist taunts, mispronouncing her name and labeling her as “crazy” and a “Marxist.” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted the extraordinary focus and discipline required for Harris to engage effectively in a debate with Trump.

After the debate, the Harris campaign plans to visit battleground states, starting in North Carolina and then heading to Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Trump continues to rally his mostly white, working-class base, delivering dark speeches that frame Democrats as a “rogue regime.” On his social media platform, he has threatened to impose harsh prison sentences on anyone he accuses of intending to “cheat” in the upcoming election.

A battle is ensuing in Uganda related to legislation as Uganda’s leading opposition party the National Unity Platform (NUP) faces challenges over opposition leadership in Parliament. Richard Lumu, the Mityana South Member of Parliament and a member of the Democratic Party (DP) has introduced a private member’s bill: The Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The bill aims at making the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) and Opposition Chief Whip elected positions instead of being appointed by the largest opposition party, typically the NUP.

Lumu’s bill seeks to amend Section 8 of the Administration of Parliament Act to allow all opposition MPs to elect the LOP, thereby enabling smaller parties like the DP to have a say in the selection process. The bill also proposes that the Chief Opposition Whip should be elected by opposition MPs.

In defence of his proposal, Lumu stated, “Election is the epitome of democracy. We elect the Speaker of Parliament and the President; there’s no reason why we shouldn’t elect our own Leader of the Opposition.” He criticized the current appointment process, claiming the Democratic Party and other parties in the opposition were not consulted when Joel Ssenyonyi was named the LOP.

Support for the bill came from NUP MP Micheal Mbwatekamwa Kakembo of Entebbe Municipality who argued that an elected LOP would better unify opposition members. However, some MPs, including Okin Ojara and Denis Oneka Lit both of the Forum for Democratic Change, opposed the motion, warning it could disrupt Parliament’s structure and questioning its introduction during a regional sitting aimed at issues of Northern Region.

Despite objections, Speaker Anita Among supported Lumu’s motion, affirming its regular parliamentary procedure. The LOP plays a crucial role in appointing the shadow Cabinet, presenting an alternative budget, and serving on the Parliamentary Commission.