Nine Rwandan nationals who were on trial in a military court in Uganda after being accused of kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms have had all charges against them dropped.

They are to be deported.

The move comes amid more than a year of strained relations between the two countries.

In September Rwanda said the Ugandan authorities had illegally detained more than 200 of its citizens.

Officials in Kigali have also accused Uganda of trying to destabilise its government by supporting rebels.

Uganda has accused Rwanda of infiltrating its security services.

The dropping of the charges appears aimed at easing some of the tension between the two former allies.