Uganda and Rwanda have signed an extradition treaty, which constitutes a legal framework to handle cases of alleged subversive activities done by nationals in each other’s territory.
The signing by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwanda’s counterpart, Paul Kagame took place during the 4th Quadripartite Heads of State Summit 2020, held at the Katuna/Gatuna border post on Friday.
The Summit witnessed by Angola’s Joao Lourenco and DRC’s Felix Tshilombo Tshisekedi, also recommended that Uganda should within one month verify and take action on allegations of support to Rwanda’s dissidents.
The Kagame government also accuse Uganda of supporting Rwandan dissidents, giving them base to destabilize the country. Uganda has since denied the accusations and instead accusing Rwandan citizens of engaging in activities that destabilize Uganda’s security, the reason they were arrested and prosecuted, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa.
Meanwhile since the first Quadripartite Summit in Luanda in August, both Rwanda and Uganda have pledged commitment to ending hostilities. Although Katuna border reopening, as one of the key resolutions of the meetings is yet to be achieved, both countries have at least released citizens in each other’s detention.
Uganda has in the months of January and February freed a total of over 20 Rwandan nationals detained for crimes including possession of firearms, espionage and illegal repatriation of refugees among others.
In respect of the Quadripartite Summit resolutions, Rwanda also freed some of the Ugandan detainees early this week.