Ugandan and Rwandan security officials convened the first high-profile cross-border meeting on Tuesday, marking a significant development since the border’s reopening on January 31, 2022. Rwandan President Paul Kagame ordered the closure of the border with Uganda on February 27, 2019. At the time, Kagame accused Ugandan authorities of espionage against Rwanda, abducting Rwandan citizens and detaining them in unauthorized areas, and harboring dissidents who were actively opposing the Kigali administration.
This led Rwanda to issue a travel advisory, cautioning its nationals against visiting Uganda due to concerns about their safety. During the border closure, Rwandan security forces reportedly shot and killed six individuals—both Ugandans and Rwandan nationals—over smuggling activities. Even after the border’s reopening, traders on the Ugandan side continued to criticize Rwandan authorities for obstructing the passage of certain goods, notably maize flour, into their country.
On Tuesday, Rwandan officials, led by Yves Muneza, Technical Advisor to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and International Cooperation, joined Ugandan officials from border districts including Kabale, Kisoro, Rubanda, Rukiga, and Ntungamo at the White Horse Inn in Kabale district.
Muneza highlighted the timeliness of the meeting, emphasizing its endorsement by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Major General Retired Robert Rusoke, the Ugandan Ambassador in Rwanda, expressed that the meeting’s objective is to address mutual border security challenges impacting both countries.
