Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni Friday held a meeting at State House in Kampala with ambassadors from the United States, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on situation in the Great Lakes region.

"Mr. Museveni and the three envoys, Jimmy Kolker of USA, Mr. Ignatius Karegesa Kamali of Rwanda and Mr. Biselele-wa-Mutshipayi of the DRC discussed issues of common interest between Uganda and their respective countries," a press release issued by the State House said.

Ugandan Minister of Defense and Attorney General Amama Mbabazi and Minister of State for Regional Cooperation Nshimye Sebutulo attended the meeting, the press release added.

In August, Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC signed an agreement to disarm the militia who have continued to destabilize the region for decades. Later, the US sponsored meeting agreed to demobilize, reintegrate and resettle armed rebel groups and militia within 12 months.

However, Tensions continued to rise in the region recently. The United Nations mission in the DRC reported at end of last month suspected Rwandan troops entered the eastern part of DRC to root out the Interahamwe militia, whom the Kigali government accuses of masterminding the 1994 genocide.

The Congolese government responded by saying it is sending thousands of troops to the border with Rwanda as the tension rose. Uganda army also deployed troops along the country's border with the DRC.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2004)