Steven Ariong, Moroto – East African Community leaders have praised President Museveni and his government for championing peace and coexistence among the Ateker community.
The leaders expressed their admiration during the high-level Ateker leaders meeting and border communities sensitization on peaceful coexistence, held at Hotel Strikers in Moroto Municipality on Wednesday.
Mr. Jeremiah Lomorukai, the Governor of Turkana County, acknowledged Uganda’s approach to promoting peace and coexistence, which has significantly contributed to the development of the pastoralist community.
He also commended President Museveni for transforming nomadic pastoralists into agro-pastoralists, a model that other pastoralist communities should emulate.
“The heart President Museveni has shown towards peaceful coexistence has truly saved many lives of pastoralist communities,” he said.
Currently, Uganda is hosting hundreds of Turkana pastoralists who are grazing their livestock in the Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong districts of the Karamoja region.
Earlier this year, President Museveni pardoned Turkana pastoralists who had been arrested and imprisoned in Uganda for illegal entry with firearms. They were released after Turkana leaders appealed to the president, who warned the pastoralists against entering Uganda with weapons.
Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mr. Peter Lokeris Aimat, assured the East African leaders that President Museveni is committed to Pan-Africanism and peaceful coexistence.
The meeting is ongoing for two more days under the theme “Strengthening Neighborly Ties for Peaceful Coexistence and Shared Prosperity among East African Border Communities.
