Uganda and Rwanda agree to prisoner swap

Presidents Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni have agreed to exchange prisoners in a move designed to deescalate tensions between the two East African neighbours.

The agreement came at a summit hosted by Angolan President João Lourenço in Luanda, also attended by DR Congo’s President, Félix Tshisekedi.

The Ugandan and Rwandan presidents agreed to “refrain from the perception of supporting, financing, and infiltration of destabilising forces in their neighbour’s territory”, according to a summit communiqué.

The parties further agreed to “take subsequent steps towards peace, stability, good neighbourliness and restoring mutual trust”.

The first of these agreed steps is the swapping of prisoners, but they did not give any further details on which prisoners would be handed over, how many, when or where.

They agreed the next summit, which will be the third between Ugandan and Rwandan officials, will take place on 21 February at the Katuna/Gatuna border point.

Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, tweeted “Uganda will do its part to ensure resolutions of the summit are implemented”, and thanked the Angolan president for hosting them.

Diplomatic tensions have been strained between Rwanda and Uganda for over a year now, with both sides accusing the other of meddling in their internal politics.

Rwandan officials accuse Uganda of supporting the Rwanda National Congress, an opposition movement led by former army boss Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa.

They have also accused Uganda of arresting and torturing Rwandan nationals in Uganda.

Conversely, Uganda says Rwanda has infiltrated its security services in an attempt to meddle with internal politics.

Photo: The Observer