Uganda and neighboring Rwanda have Monday resolved on a number of contentious issues that previously stirred uneasiness resulting into border closure by Kigali.
Uganda’s Foreign Minister Hon Sam Kutesa led a delegation on Monday to Rwanda to meet his counterpart in Kigali and implement the MoU signed by Uganda, Rwandan Presidents Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Paul Kagame in Luanda- Angola.
After the meeting, Kutesa and his counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe released a joint statement communicating what was agreed.
Statement
As mandated by the Luanda Summit of the 21st of August 2019, the first meeting of the Ad hoc Commission for the Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda was held in Kigali, Rwanda, on the 16th of September 2019.
The delegation of Uganda was led by Hon. Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and included Hon. William Byaruhanga, the Attorney General, Hon. Jeje Odong Abu, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Amb. Joseph Ocwet, Director General of the External Security Organisation.
The delegation of Rwanda was led by Hon. Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of State in charge of the East African Community, and included Hon. Johnston Busmgye, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Hon. Prof. Anastase Shyaka, Minister of Local Government, and Maj. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita, Secretary General of the National Intelligence and Security Service.
Also present were the representatives of the facilitators Hon. Manuel Dorningos Augusto, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Angola and Hon. Gilbert Kankonde Malamba, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, Security and Customary Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting took place in a frank and cordial atmosphere. Following extensive deliberations, the two delegations reached agreement on a number of Issues of mutual interest and concern as follows:
1. Rwanda provided a list of Rwandans detained in Uganda and the Republic of Uganda committed to verify the information for the purpose of processing those named through due judicial process and releasing those against whom no evidence of criminal conduct will have been found;
2. Both parties agreed that due process will be followed in dealing with each other’s citizens;
3. Both parties reiterated their commitment to refraining from any acts of destabilization against each other;
4. Both parries agreed to finalize the extradition treaty in order to provide frame for future exchange of criminal fugitives;
5. Born parties committed to cease all forms of hostile propaganda in both mainstream and social media;
6. Both parties agreed that the issue of free movement of persons and goods and services across the common border and other outstanding issues shall be discussed in the next meeting;
7. The next meeting shall be held in Kampala, Uganda after 30 days to review the progress of the implementations of Luanda MoU.