A United States-based Ugandan journalist, Remmy Bahati, has sparked renewed discussion among East African audiences after highlighting controversial remarks by Rwandan President Paul Kagame on the origins of the M23 rebellion and the political transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Bahati, who is originally from Uganda but currently resides in the United States, framed the statements as part of a broader and long-running debate affecting the Great Lakes region, especially Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC.
The M23 rebellion, which has destabilised eastern Congo for years, has often been linked by different governments and international actors to cross-border political and security dynamics.
According to Bahati’s account of Kagame’s remarks, the Rwandan leader rejected accusations that Kigali is responsible for the formation of the rebel group, instead pointing to Uganda as its place of origin.
“You cannot blame us for the start of this conflict, because everybody knows where this conflict started from and by whom,” Kagame was quoted as saying.
“This M23… came from Uganda. They did not come from here. Why was it not made Uganda’s problem?”
The claims have reopened sensitive regional questions that often place Uganda at the centre of debates involving rebel movements operating in eastern Congo.
Kampala has in the past faced allegations and scrutiny regarding armed groups in the region, though Ugandan authorities have consistently denied direct involvement in supporting insurgencies abroad.
Kagame also used the remarks to challenge the legitimacy of DRC President Félix Tshisekedi’s rise to power, alleging that his presidency was not purely the result of an electoral process but part of a negotiated political arrangement involving regional leaders.
He cited former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as figures he said could confirm discussions surrounding Congo’s political transition.
“You know how the current president came to be president?” Kagame said. “He was just called to the office and this man thought he was making a good deal and they handed him power.”
The remarks come at a delicate moment for the region, as fighting in eastern Congo continues alongside strained diplomatic relations among neighbouring states.