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In the 1989, Kenya had soured her relationship with Uganda after Moi ordered the temporary closure of the eminent Uganda-Busia border on grounds that Museveni had falselly accused the Kenyan government of supporting rebels aimed at overthrowing him.
In his quest to restore a cordial relationship between the two neighboring contries, the then Tanzanian president Mzee Hassan Mwinyi called the Moi and Museveni to Dar el Salaam to amicably solve the conflict.
The meeting was held at a luxurious state Lodge strategically placed a few metres from the Indian Ocean. The climate was perfect and altruistic, the cold breeze that emanated from the ocean created an exemplary calm atmosphere that could easily cool the ‘political temperatures’ that had risen drastically between the duo countries.
Before the meeting was set rolling, Mzee Mwinyi requested the two presidents to hug each other. After a long hesitance, the duo hugged each other theatrically. There was no contact between their bodies.
That was a clear indication that the presidents weres still not ease with each other. Mzee Mwinyi took them to a separate room and humbly requested them to sit a close range with each other in an effort to calm them down but the opposite happened.
“Wewe,” Museveni filled with furry told Moi, “If you want to see fire, then, let your boys cross the line.”
Moi maintained his silence and started to flip his beauteous rungu, “Fimbo ya Nyayo” menacingly and sign that something terrible could happen at any moment.
After a prolonged silence, Moi requested Museveni that they may engage in an arm wrestling match allegedly to see who had more strength with Mzee Mwinyi acting as the referee.
Museveni accepted the challenge and a table was brought and Mwinyi reiterated the rules of the game to the president. After taking their positions on either side of the table the contest began.
In an instant, Moi lowered Museveni’s hand to the table and Moi was declared the winner. Still engulfed in shock, Museveni requested for a rematch but Moi responded, “Next time.”
The relationship between the two countries gradually improved but the two leaders never found time for a rematch.
What a cheerful way of settling a dispute: the old men simply played a boys’ game