Uganda, Rwanda Sign Pact to Defuse Tension

Ahmad El-Assasy

Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni signed with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame a memorandum of understanding (MoU)to ease the situation between the two countries in Angola.

This MoU aims to ease tension between Kigali and Kampala

The pact was signed on regional cooperation and security, Rwandan Government officials told Uganda local media.

The signature was attended by the president of Angola, Joao Lourenco, the President of DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, the President of Congo Brazzaville, Sassou Nguesso.

Angola President, Joao Lourenco chaired the mediation session between the two presidents.

There is a potential diplomatic rapprochement between Uganda and Rwanda.

It was the second quadripartite meeting chaired by the host president of Angola trying to mediate on the standoff between Uganda and Rwanda.

This MoU may reach the heart of the issue that has caused the standoff between Kigali and Kampala for months: accusations of wanting to stabilize either country.

Rwanda accuses Uganda of arresting, jailing and torturing its citizens illegally, the accusations Kampala denies and brands themes as ‘groundless’. Kampala says that it only ’rounds up’ troublemakers.

Another accusation that analysts see that the Angolan president should be dealing with appropriately is hosting rebels wanting to destabilize either country.

Since February this year, Rwanda and Uganda have had trade tensions, which culminated into Rwanda closing its border point at Gatuna.

The closure of the border has disrupted trade between the two countries. On Average Uganda derives $200m (about sh744b) annually from trade inflows with Rwanda.

To ease the tension, Museveni and Kagame held the first high-level political dialogue in Luanda, Angola on July 12, which tackled regional security, cooperation and strengthening of ties.

During the July 12 summit, Lourenco, Tshisekedi, Museveni and Kagame, welcomed the “political will of Rwanda and Uganda to continue dialogue with a view of finding a solution to existing problems.”