Summary:

• Turkana leaders appeal to Ugandan President Museveni, offering 250 cows as compensation for geologist and military officer deaths, seeking a review of the executive order affecting border communities’ coexistence.

Turkana leaders have made an appeal to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, urging him to accept 250 cows as compensation. These cattle would be mobilized from pastoralists and offered as restitution for the loss of three geologists from Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and two officers from the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces. The tragic incident occurred in March 2022 when the victims were attacked by cattle rustlers while mapping minerals in northern Uganda. Despite a joint security operation recovering the stolen guns, the perpetrators remain at large.

In a joint meeting held in Moroto town, leaders from Turkana County, led by Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, and representatives from the Karamoja region, led by State Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Peter Lokeris, discussed President Museveni’s executive order. The proposal to compensate the affected families with 250 cows was deemed a viable and acceptable means to restore mutual relations between the border pastoralist communities of the two countries.

Governor Lomorukai expressed the Turkana community’s willingness to demonstrate remorse and restore good relations through compensation. Despite the expiration of the six-month ultimatum in November, he highlighted that security matters fall within the jurisdiction of national government authorities according to Kenya’s Constitution.

While investigations are ongoing, the leaders appealed to President Museveni to exercise mercy and pardon detained Turkana pastoralists involved in various cases, including the geologists’ killings. Turkana County Chairman Christopher Nakuleu urged the resolution of border tensions through amicable means, emphasizing the common cultural ties between the communities.

Minister Lokeris emphasized Uganda’s commitment to disarmament in the Karamoja region and urged Turkana pastoralists not to carry guns across the border. The Turkana leaders assured their counterparts of their commitment to sensitizing pastoralists at the kraal level to adhere to this directive.

Highlighting the far-reaching implications of the executive order on inter-communal coexistence and livelihoods, the leaders jointly appealed to President Museveni to review and amend the order in favor of the border communities. They stressed the historical ties and shared socio-economic livelihoods that have enabled peaceful coexistence between the Karamoja and Turkana communities.

Joseph Lokaale of Ng’ibanga Kraal in Turkana West Sub County shared the impact of the executive order on more than 25,000 people who had settled in Uganda for grazing. Forced to flee back to Kenya due to growing tension, he expressed hope that President Museveni would consider their plea, promising efforts towards grassroots peace dialogues and identifying criminal elements for sustainable peace.