Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo arrived in Washington, DC, on Wednesday evening to join a rare gathering of East African leaders ahead of the official signing of a major peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. She is representing President Yoweri Museveni at the ceremony, which many analysts say could redefine security and cooperation in the Great Lakes region.
The high-level event, hosted by US President Donald Trump, is expected to formalise what has been named the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity. Kenya’s President William Ruto and Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye are also attending, signalling the broad regional weight behind this initiative.
The agreement comes as violence once again intensifies in eastern DR Congo, where the M23 rebel group has recently expanded its control. The area, home to vast reserves of minerals essential for global industries, has been plagued by armed groups for more than thirty years. Washington has shown keen interest in restoring stability, especially given the region’s importance in the supply of minerals critical for modern technology.
Ahead of the signing, diplomatic engagements have filled the US capital. On Wednesday night, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame met senior Republican lawmakers to discuss long-term cooperation and the stability of the Great Lakes region. Kagame and Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi are also expected to meet President Trump at the recently renamed Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace.
The White House confirmed that today’s signing is the result of months of sensitive negotiations involving Washington, Kigali, Kinshasa, and other international actors. A preliminary deal was signed in June, followed by additional commitments in Qatar in November, but several issues remain unresolved. These include humanitarian access, the return of displaced communities, restoration of state authority, and reform of armed groups.
Eastern DR Congo has suffered cycles of unrest since the 1990s, with the M23 rebel movement—largely made up of ethnic Tutsis—at the centre of recurring clashes. Although Rwanda has denied supporting the group, UN reports and rights organisations have linked M23 fighters to the Rwanda Defence Force. In July, the UN recorded more than 300 civilian deaths in North Kivu attributed to M23, allegedly assisted by Rwandan forces, shortly after the initial White House agreement.
Despite these troubling reports, the Washington Accords are being promoted as a bold attempt to halt decades of mistrust and open a path toward stability. If fully honoured, the agreement could pave the way for dismantling rebel structures, reviving state control in troubled regions, and enabling reconstruction and economic growth.
Uganda’s participation underscores its longstanding influence in Great Lakes peace efforts. Kampala has previously hosted peace talks and maintains close ties with both Kigali and Kinshasa. As a major player in regional security, Uganda is expected to take an active role in monitoring and implementing the commitments made in Washington.
While the ceremony marks a moment of renewed hope, experts caution that true success will depend on concrete action on the ground. Fighting continues in parts of North Kivu, and key issues still require consensus. Even so, today’s meeting in Washington offers a rare moment of diplomatic unity as leaders attempt to turn decades of conflict into a foundation for cooperation and progress.