Relationship dossier
Rwanda
Uganda
Relationship assessment
A gradual thaw follows years of security disputes and border disruption
Rwanda toward Uganda
-20Rwanda closed the main border crossing with Uganda in 2019 and accused Uganda of supporting groups hostile to Rwanda and mistreating Rwandan citizens. Rwanda later engaged in talks aimed at resolving the dispute, and the border reopened in 2022.
Uganda toward Rwanda
-15Uganda accused Rwanda of espionage and detained or deported Rwandan citizens during the dispute. Uganda also participated in negotiations to ease tensions, including the 2019 Luanda process, and the countries subsequently restored border crossings.
Overall relationship
-15The bilateral relationship combines substantial security disputes and a major period of border disruption with later negotiations and reopening of the border. These steps indicate a meaningful thaw, but the underlying disputes and uncertainty about the durability of cooperation prevent characterization as a stable partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Rwanda and Uganda have experienced serious security and political tensions, including reciprocal accusations of espionage and support for armed opponents, alongside Rwanda’s prolonged closure of their main border crossing. High-level agreements and the border’s reopening marked a gradual thaw, but the relationship has remained vulnerable to renewed strain.
Areas of tension
- Reciprocal allegations of espionage and interference in domestic affairs.
- Rwanda’s accusations that Uganda supported groups hostile to Rwanda.
- Treatment and detention of citizens of the other country.
- The prolonged closure of the main Rwanda–Uganda border crossing.
Key developments
The two governments signed a memorandum of understanding in Luanda intended to address their disputes and restore normal relations.
The Gatuna border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda reopened after years of closure.
Major uncertainties
- The implementation and durability of commitments made to resolve the security disputes are unclear.
- The extent of current bilateral security and economic cooperation is uncertain.