Uganda and Rwanda have signed an Agreement in the Angolan capital Luanda, the agreement which was signed by Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, will see the two countries take steps to improve their strained relationship.

The strain in this relationship has thrown a spanner in the work of the East African community where Mr Kagame is Chairman.

President Joao Lourenco of Angola  chaired the meeting, and it was also be attended by the Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, Denis Sasou Ngueso of Congo Brazaville. 

Sources say Uganda and Rwanda agreed to end their wrangles, and the agreement will see Rwanda reopen its border in Gatuna, which had been closed to the Ugandan cargo trucks.

It is still not clear when the border will finally be opened.

Initial meeting
In the first meeting, sources indicated that Rwanda and Uganda tabled allegations of undermining each other’s national security.

Rwanda accuses Uganda of hosting its dissidents, an allegation that Uganda has dismissed as false and baseless. Rwanda also says its nationals are being harassed but Uganda says some Rwandans were not following the right immigration procedures.

Last month, three civil society organisations filed a suit in the East African Court of Justice against the governments of Uganda and Rwanda over the border closure.

The East African sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women, Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute, and Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights say the border closure was in contravention of the East African common market protocol which provides for the free movement of labour, goods and services.

President Museveni recently, said mutual talks between Uganda and Rwanda to revive the cross-border trade are progressing.

In Uganda, businesses near the border with Rwanda have registered losses while the price of goods are reported to have increased.

In February, Rwanda closed Gatuna border post to cargo trucks. But the border remained open for other small cars and buses.
The leadership in Rwanda explained that they were constructing a one stop border post at Gatuna.

They, however, restricted Rwandans from entering Uganda after claiming that Uganda was a hostile country.