By John Ikani
Rwanda on Friday said it will reopen its land border with Uganda at the end of the month after a three-year closure, signalling a thaw in frosty relations between the neighbours.
The reopening was announced after President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Lieutenant General Muhoozi Kainerugaba met President Paul Kagame in Rwanda.
The border between the two East African nations was closed in February 2019 as political tensions between Kigali and Kampala spiralled, devastating two-way trade.
With the closure, cross-border movement of people and goods at the Gatuna/Katuna border was barred between the two East African nations. Only goods were allowed in through the other two borders, Cyanika and Kagitumba.
Rwanda had accused Uganda of arresting and deporting its citizens and supporting rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
The Ugandan Government denied the allegation and instead accused Rwanda of infiltrating its security agencies.
Uganda on Tuesday sacked the head of military intelligence Maj Gen Abel Kandiho who had been accused of human rights abuses.
The reopening of the main border and the sacking of the official has been seen as a move to better relations between the two countries.
Rwanda’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the main Gatuna border post, known as Katuna in Uganda, would reopen on January 31.
Following Kainerugaba’s visit, the government “has taken note that there is a process to solve issues raised by Rwanda, as well as commitments made by the government of Uganda to address remaining obstacles”, it said.
“The government of Rwanda remains committed to ongoing efforts to resolve pending issues between Rwanda and Uganda and believes that today’s announcement will contribute positively to the speedy normalisation of relations between the two countries.”
There was no immediate comment from the Ugandan Government, but it retweeted the Rwandan statement on its official account.
Kainerugaba is rumoured to be positioning himself as a possible successor to his 77-year-old father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986.
