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The two East African countries have been at odds for almost four years. A thaw in relations between Rwanda and Uganda! The two neighbors have agreed to resume talks to resolve their dispute largely over security issues. This decision comes following the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, received on January 17, 2022, a special message from his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, transmitted by his Special Envoy, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare. In his message, the Ugandan Head of State believes that talks between Rwanda and Uganda, which have been stalled since February 2020, might resume as the two countries seek to fully restore bilateral ties. For Kigali, any effort to resume talks with Kampala hinges on its ability to be accountable and to work on issues that Rwanda has already raised and which, if left unaddressed, would still be a stumbling block in the peace efforts of the two East African neighbours. The Ugandan diplomat’s visit coincided with a tweet by Museveni’s eldest son and special forces commander, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in which he referred to President Kagame as an “uncle”, adding that anyone who fights once morest him the latter, fights once morest his family. Rwanda accuses Uganda of supporting armed groups once morest it, harboring hostile groups, kidnapping and torturing Rwandans in its territory. This resulted in the closure of the border. Uganda has also accused Rwanda of attempting to impose a trade embargo and engaging in espionage. At the height of tensions earlier this year, Rwanda blocked cargo trucks from Uganda from entering its territory from their shared border’s main crossing point at Gatuna, citing roadworks construction at the border. Rwanda has also prevented its citizens from traveling to Uganda due to allegations of arbitrary detention and torture of Rwandans there, charges that Kampala has always denied.

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