Rwanda and Uganda agree to swap prisoners

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwandese counterpart Paul Kagame met on Sunday in Luanda, the Angolan capital, and agreed to restore diplomatic ties after hostilities led to the closure of the main border.

The summit was the second to be hosted by Angola's President João Lourenço and was also attended by Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi.

President Museveni and President Kagame agreed that their two countries will "refrain from the perception of supporting, financing, training and infiltration of destabilizing forces in their neighbour’s territory", according to a communiqué of the summit.

They also agreed to "take subsequent steps towards peace, stability, good neighbourliness and restoring mutual trust".

Part of the steps will include swapping of prisoners. But they did not say how many prisoners would be freed nor detail how or when the exchange would happen, AFP reports.

The two leaders also agreed that the next summit will be held at the Katuna/Gatuna border point between both countries on 21 February.

President Museveni tweeted that Uganda will ensure the resolutions made are implemented:

Attended the third Quadripartite Summit on Uganda, Rwanda, Angola and DR Congo in Luanda. I thank President Joao Laurenco for hosting the summit. Uganda will do its part to ensure resolutions of the summit are implemented. pic.twitter.com/o6LYTbaSaP

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) February 2, 2020

Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Uganda have been strained for more than a year.

Rwanda authorities accuse Uganda of supporting an opposition movement, Rwansa National Congress (RNC), led by former Rwandan army chief Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa. They also accuse Uganda of arresting and torturing a number of Rwandans in Uganda.

Uganda for its part accuses Rwanda of infiltrating its security services and interfering with its internal politics.