The long-awaited heads of state meeting held in Angola, Luanda to resolve the protracted standoff between Uganda and Rwanda happened on Sunday and resolved to protect the human rights of their national citizens as well as exchange prisoners.

The third quadripartite summit was attended by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, and mediators João Lourenço, the President of Angola and Felix Tshisekedi, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The two clashing negotiated the release prisoners being held in their country and also decided to desist any form of political interference in each other’s country.

The communication reads in part, “The release of the national citizens of each country, duly identified and included in the lists exchanged for this purpose,” added the communication.

“Both parties must refrain from all the factors that may create the perception of supporting, financing, training, and infiltration or destabilizing forces in their neighbors’ territory.”

According to the communication, both Uganda and Rwanda must continue to protect the human rights of the national citizens of the other party.

Besides that, the meeting resolved to proceed with the activities of the Ad-Hoc commission, as technique to monitor the implementation of the process.

The summit agreed to hold the next meeting at the closed common Gatuna border between Rwanda and Uganda on 21st February.

President Museveni and President Kagame welcomed the resolutions and committed to working towards a peaceful solution in the Spirit of Pan Africanism and regional integration.

The first quadripartite summit took place in Luanda in July 2019.

The summit called for bilateral dialogue and consolidation of peace and security in the region and as an important factor for economic integration.

The second quadripartite happened in August 2019 with a conclusion of the signing of a memorandum of Understanding called a“Friendship Agreement” which set the pace for reconciliation of Rwanda and Uganda.

In the MoU, they agreed that cross border movement of goods and people would resume as soon as possible.

But Rwanda has continued to point fingers at Uganda for arresting, torturing its citizens and deporting many. Rwanda also faulted Uganda for supporting anti-Kigali groups that seek to sabotage the country.

However, Uganda denies such allegations and only maintains that arrested Rwandans were spies.