Kenya and Uganda are on the verge of signing a landmark cross-border resource-sharing agreement that could finally end decades of conflict between the Turkana and Karamojong communities. This development follows a high-level diplomatic meeting between President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, at State House, Nairobi.
The two leaders agreed to fast-track the long-awaited deal, which aims to facilitate peaceful coexistence along the volatile northern Kenya-Uganda border. The corridor has long been plagued by armed cattle raids, competition over scarce resources, and frequent arrests of pastoralists, particularly during drought seasons.
“This agreement will promote greater harmony between our communities by allowing structured access to shared resources like water and pasture,” President Ruto said. “It represents our commitment to peace and sustainable development for the people of Turkana and Karamoja.”
President Museveni, who is on an official visit to Kenya, expressed his support for the initiative, which comes after several past attempts by local leaders to broker peace through informal dialogue. In February 2023, community leaders met under the guidance of Uganda’s senior presidential adviser on defence, Salim Saleh, to call for a formal pact to resolve recurring tensions.
Ruto also thanked Museveni for considering the release of several Kenyan pastoralists jailed in Uganda. In April 2023, 32 herders from Urum and Lokiriama in Turkana were sentenced to 20 years in prison after crossing the border during a drought. They were released after serving a year, a move seen as a diplomatic gesture towards easing tensions.
The agreement, now in its final stages, will provide a framework for cross-border cooperation and ensure sustainable access to resources, reducing the risk of conflict. Ruto noted that the deal is part of broader bilateral efforts covering regional security, trade, and infrastructure.
“These agreements are not just diplomatic symbols they are tangible steps to improve the lives of our people,” Ruto affirmed.
The resource-sharing framework is expected to be finalized before the end of the year, signaling a hopeful future for communities that have endured years of hardship along the Kenya-Uganda border.
