Kampala — UGANDA and Rwanda yesterday moved a step to towards the normalisation of their strained relations after a meeting of Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Maj. Gen. Paul Kagame in London.

In a communiqué issued after the talks, the two presidents, 'agreed to investigate and resolve all outstanding complaints against each other."

This will lead to the complete normalisation of the relations between the two countries.

The presidents will also continue to work to resolve all other outstanding issues that would allow their countries to regain their former fraternal relations.

The presidents will meet again in London after six months to review progress.

The meeting at Lancaster House, was brokered by British Secretary for International Development Clare Short who also chaired the mid-afternoon meeting.

The two presidents had lunch together before they went back for a tete-a-tete on bilateral issues.

Foreign affairs minister James Wapakhabulo, speaking from London, said he was optimistic the meeting would "improve relations between the two countries."

"The talks are taking a positive trend," Wapakhabulo said.

"It is a good thing that they are talking to each other in person. We hope, that will give the best results."

Wapakhabulo, Rwanda's special envoy to the DR Congo Patrick Mazimpaka and Short met separately as the talks progressed.

Uganda's delegation included, defence minister Amama Mbabazi, Chief of Military Intelligence Col. Noble Mayombo, Director General of External Security, David Pulkol and Uganda's ambassador to Rwanda Adonia Ayebare.

Short told the BBC that Britain's mediation in the talks was aimed at, "diffusing tension between the two countries and bringing about a long-term settlement in the Congo that would benefit the people of Burundi, Congo, Rwanda and Uganda."

The two presidents also discussed the situation in Burundi, Uvira, Ituri and the Congo. They agreed to work together to support the full implementation of the peace process in the DRC and Burundi and to bring development in the region.

Fighting between rival militia groups has resumed in the northeastern Congolese town of Bunia and thousands of civilians are fleeing following the withdrawal of Ugandan troops.

Museveni and Kagame called upon the Congolese parties to work for the establishment of the transitional national government in the DRC without any further delay.

They also appealed to the parties to stop arming militia and negative forces in Eastern Congo.

They recommended that a regional summit on Burundi be held as soon as possible.

The presidents hailed Short for facilitating dialogue between them to help ease the mounting tension.

Rwanda's foreign minister Charles Murigande told Reuters, "It is our hope that the meeting will ease tension that has been mounting lately between the two countries."

Museveni was received on arrival in London by Wapakhabulo, Uganda High Commissioner to the UK Prof. George Kirya, and a representative of Her Majesty the Queen's government.

In the last London meeting in October 2002, the two leaders agreed to meet again in six months time to review the ongoing efforts to normalise relations between the two countries

Yesterday's talks came only two days after the re-location of renegade UPDF officers Colonels Samson Mande and Anthony Kyakabale and 11 other Uganda dissidents, from Rwanda to Sweden.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has re-located some Rwanda dissidents from Uganda to the USA.

The meeting was also held at a critical stage for the peace process in the DRC. The national transitional government is due to be sworn in later this month.

Tension between Uganda and Rwanda heightened after their armies clashed thrice in 1999 and 2000 in the northeastern Congolese city of Kisangani.

Mbabazi recently told MPs that Rwanda harboured and supported the People's Redemption Army rebels with a view of causing a regime change in Kampala. He said Rwanda started supporting opposition groups in Uganda prior to the 2001 presidential elections.