The former Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has been appointed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to represent him in Kiev-Russia in the mediation of the Russia-Ukraine war.
This comes after President Museveni declared being Covid-19 positive during the State of the Nation Address last week on Wednesday.
The President said that he will be represented by the former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda in Kiev, who by last evening was already in Poland from where he will head to Russia.
According to President Museveni, seven African Presidents had agreed to travel to Kiev to mediate in the Russia-Ukraine war.
“I have now sent an official message that, on account of my continued corona status, I cannot join the group. Dr. Rugunda will represent us. He is already in Poland. From Poland, they will go to Russia to meet with the Russians. I wish the mission success,” President Museveni said in a statement.
The President listed the other six Presidents from Africa who include, Presidents of Comoros, Egypt, South Africa, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Zambia.
In the last minute twist of events, President Museveni who is still positive for Covid-19 has decided to address Parliament virtually on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Kololo Independence grounds during the national budget reading.
In a statement issued last evening, the President said that since he is not travelling to Kiev-Russia, he will be able to address the Members of Parliament physically at a distance of 300 meters.
He said that he had earlier delegated the whole effort to Vice President Jessica Alupo but only to inspect the parade for him and take the salute for the match pass before he makes his brief remarks at the end of the budget speech.
“Otherwise, I had delegated the whole effort to VP Alupo. Now that I am not traveling, she will inspect the parade for me, take the salute for the match past and I will make my brief remarks at the end of the budget speech,” the statement read in part.
In a statement issued by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last week, President Ramaphosa said that he spoke with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the phone and briefed him about the African leaders’ peace mission.
“President Putin has welcomed the initiative by African heads of state and expressed his desire to receive the peace mission,” the statement read.
“The Brazzaville Foundation is pleased to announce that Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, will receive on Friday, June 16, 2023, in Kiev, and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will receive on Saturday, June 17, 2023 in St. Petersburg and the following Heads of State: Cyril Ramaphosa-President of the Republic of South Africa; Azali Assoumani-President of the African Union and President of the Union of Comoros, Denis Sassou Nguesso-President of the Republic of Congo; Yoweri Museveni-President of the Republic of Uganda, Macky Sall-President of the Republic of Senegal and Hakainde Hichilema-President of the Republic of Zambia,” the organization said in a communication distributed on Thursday in South Africa.
The Brazzaville Foundation was created in the summer of 2014 by French businessman Jean-Yves Olivier, who is its current president. The organization is headquartered in London.
