Museveni, Kagame Meet in Nairobi

President Yoweri Museveni said Friday that he had met with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame at State House, Nairobi in Kenya

According to President Museveni's tweet, they met shortly before witnessing "the signing of the Treaty of Accession by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the East African Community".

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on March 29 joined the East African Community (EAC) becoming its seven partner state.

The Summit of EAC Heads of State at their 19th Ordinary Summit admitted DRC following a recommendation by the Council of Ministers.

Museveni's meeting with Kagame follows the Commander of Land Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba's double visits to Kigali that yielded a number of notable results in improving Kigali-Kampala relations, including the  re-opening of Gatuna/Katuna border that had been closed for three years.

During the latest three-day visit that ended on March 16, Gen Kainerugaba received 10 cows of Inyambo breed from Kagame while at the latter's farm in Bugesera, a district in the Eastern Province of Rwanda.

He also paid tribute to victims of the Tutsi Genocide at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi. The site is home to over 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Gen Kainerugaba also toured the Campaign Against Genocide Museum in Kimihurura (CAG), and the Kigali Arena, Rwanda's capital's major stadium for hosting basketball and volleyball competitions as well as concerts.

Meanwhile, East African presidents have hailed the admission of DRC into the East African Community, eyeing boosting regional trade and security.

“Admitting DRC into EAC is historic for our Community and the African continent at large. It demonstrates the agility of the Community to expand beyond its socio-cultural boundaries to new people and trade-centered partnerships and collaboration, thus increasing trade and investment opportunities for the citizens,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta.

President, Yoweri Museveni, said that DRC joining the Community was an event of great significance, adding that he had personally been waiting for the last 60 years for DRC to reconnect with EAC.

“DRC has strong historical, social and cultural links with the EAC Partner States. It is the onus of the EAC to now work on restoring peace and stability in Eastern DRC, a fete we can achieve by working together,” he added.

On his part, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda hailed the EAC Council of Ministers and the Summit for fast-tracking the entry of DRC into the EAC.

“I call upon EAC Organs and Institutions to accelerate the integration of DRC into the Community. Rwanda is committed to support the process,” he stated.