The adhoc commission’s virtual meeting for the normalization of relations between Uganda and Rwanda ended Thursday without a position , particularly on the opening of the Katuna border point in Kabale District.
The meeting, the first of the commission since President Museveni ‘s fourth Quadripartite Heads of State Summit, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Joao Laurenco of Angola, and Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC on February 21, at the Katuna border, was expected to announce itself on a preliminary proposal to reopen the border according to diplomatic sources familiar with the matter.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sam Kutesa presided over the video conference. A delegation from Rwanda, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Vincente Biruta; the Deputy Prime Minister of DR Congo, Mr Gilbert Kankonde Malamba, and the Minister of External Relations of Angola, Mr Tete Antonio, attended.
“Uganda’s stance in the meeting was that the border opens as the issues raised by Kigali are discussed further but Rwanda vehemently shot [the idea] down,” sources said on condition of anonymity since only Mr Kutesa is mandated to comment on the matter.
According to a draft communication, it was subsequently resolved that both Kampala and Kigali continue to exchange information that will enable verification of the allegations made, as well as work towards the fulfillment of paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Communiqué of the 4th Summit of Quadripartite Heads of State held on 21 February 2020.
The Rwandan state broadcaster had tweeted earlier Thursday that, “130 Rwandans currently held in the Ugandan prisons are set to be released in the coming weeks, Uganda’s Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa has told the 4th adhoc commission.”
According to the press release, however, Kigali also agreed to verify the list of Ugandans allegedly detained in Rwanda and asked Uganda to grant consular visits to the alleged Rwandan nationals detained in Uganda.
The parties also committed to accelerating the ratification of the extradition treaty and reiterated their commitment to safeguarding and respecting the human rights of nationals of both parties in compliance with the rule of law and international humanitarian law and by ensuring due process.
“.. parties agreed that political will is the cornerstone for normalisation of relations between the two countries and committed to continue to build upon the progress achieved thus far in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding of Luanda, in a climate of mutual trust,” the communique reads in part.
Meanwhile, in a dramatic turn of events, diplomatic sources further pointed out that Uganda’s UN Permanent Representative, Mr Adonia Ayebare, whom President Museveni appointed Special Envoy for Relationship Standardization at the end of last year, was barred from the virtual meeting on Mr Kutesa ‘s directives yesterday for unknown reasons.
Attempts for a statement to contact both Principals were fruitless.
After months of frosty relations between their governments, President Lourenço of Angola in July last year brought Mr Museveni and Mr Kagame to the table of discussion for mediation.
Uganda, Rwanda, and Angola are members of the Great Lakes Region International Conference (ICGLR), a 12-member country body of countries that subscribe to the Great Lakes region.