Leaders from Turkana County in Kenya have offered to compensate Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni with 250 cows, gathered from pastoralists, as a gesture of remorse for the killing of three geologists from Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and two Ugandan military officers by cattle rustlers in Moroto District in March 2022. The attack occurred while the victims were mapping minerals in northern Uganda.
The compensation proposal was presented during a joint meeting between Turkana leaders, led by Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, and Karamoja region hosts, led by Ugandan State Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Peter Lokeris. The meeting aimed to discuss President Museveni’s executive order, which called for the extradition of the killers within six months and warned of expelling Turkana pastoralists if the conditions were not met.
Governor Lomorukai emphasized the willingness of the Turkana community to mobilize the cows for compensation, indicating a desire to restore good relations and peaceful coexistence between the pastoralist communities on the border. The leaders also appealed to President Museveni to review and amend the executive order, highlighting the negative impact on peaceful coexistence, trade relations, and livelihoods along the border.
The meeting acknowledged ongoing investigations by Kenyan authorities into the killings and urged President Museveni to exercise mercy by pardoning Turkana pastoralists detained in connection with various cases. Turkana leaders also pledged to sensitize pastoralists against carrying guns into Uganda, complying with the order to prevent violations of Ugandan laws.
