Uganda Says Working with Neighbors to Resolve Burundi Crisis

Uganda’s Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda says his country is working with other regional leaders to find a solution to the crisis in Burundi.

Rugunda is currently in Washington to meet with senior officials at the U.S. State Department and is scheduled to meet with Ugandans across the country.

In an interview with VOA, he said the meeting aims to improve already good relations between the United States and Uganda.

“This was really consolidating the already warm relations between our two countries. We have worked together on various programs and we expect an even broader scope of cooperation between the United States and Uganda, and between the United States and the region,” said Rugunda.

The United States has called on East African leaders to help resolve the crisis in Burundi. The African Union has also called for dialogue after urging the government, opposition and civil society groups to encourage their supporters to respect the constitution.

Rugunda said the administration in Kampala will continue with efforts to help restore peace and stability in Burundi.

"Uganda has by tradition played a very constructive and active role in peace and security in the region, and actually Burundi in particular,” said Rugunda.

“President Museveni has been a regional chairman of the peace process in Burundi and therefore, Uganda continues to play an important role in ensuring that the people of Burundi are able and do manage their security situation well, so that peace and security can prevail in the country and issues can be resolved across the table other than other methods that would create a conflict,” he added.

Rugunda says relations between Burundi and Uganda remain warm despite Burundi's ongoing political crisis.

“The Burundians living in Uganda live in peace, they do [a] very significant amount of trade, so relations between the two countries are good relations,” said Rugunda.

Clottey interview with Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister of Uganda:

Clottey interview with Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister of Uganda