Uganda and Rwanda Sign MoU to Improve Economic, Security Relations

By Philip Wasswa

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Rwanda's Paul Kagame have signed an agreement to improve the political and economic relations between their two countries.

"We have agreed on a raft of issues that will be implemented between our two countries, largely meant to improve our security, trade, and political relations. Uganda is fully committed to enforcing this agreement," President Museveni said in social media message.

He added: "I thank Presidents; Joao Lourenco of Angola and Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo for overseeing this process. I also thank His Excellency Dennis Sassou Nguesso for witnessing the signing as Chair of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region."

Accusations of supporting respective rebel movements in the other’s country and mistreating each other’s citizens boiled over early this year and Rwanda closed their main border crossing in February.

It was briefly re-opened to cargo trucks in June but then closed again. Rwandans are still banned from traveling to Uganda, which has accused Rwanda of effectively imposing a trade embargo.

Kagame said: “I deeply thank the leaders of Angola and (Congo) for their attitude and brotherly commitment to helping us find solutions between Uganda and Rwanda,” according to his office’s Twitter account.