All eyes on Museveni as parliament passes tough Anti-Homosexual Bill

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has threatened to expel all Kenyan Turkana living in Uganda if the Kenyan government fails to hand over the suspected killers of five Ugandan nationals and put an end to illegal guns smuggling and livestock rustling perpetrated by the community in his country.

Museveni, in an 18-page Executive Order communicating his country’s frustration over the issue, attributed the possession of firearms by the Turkana herders to Kenya’s failure to conduct proper disarmament efforts.

“Despite allowing the Turkana herders to settle in Uganda’s Karamoja area, they have continued to smuggle guns into the country, posing a threat to its stability,” he said.

“Long ago, I ordered these Turkanas to never bring guns in Uganda. They should just come and graze their cattle minus being armed. They, however, do not listen to this. Instead, they raid our disarmed Karimonjong, kill people, rape, etc. They are said to have raided 2245 cattle from the Jie,” he said.

Museveni’s latest calls come in response to the murder of five individuals

According to Museveni, the Turkana herders killed three geologists, one officer and a soldier, who were guarding them.

However, Museveni said that the killers of the geologists must be handed over to Uganda for trial for murder noting that only the guns were handed back to the Government of Uganda, but not the killers.

As an alternative settlement, Museveni says that the killers, with the coordination of both Kenyan and Ugandan governments should conduct a ‘blood settlement’ on the families of the deceased.

“The price of the kukaraba cannot be the traditional one, of a few cows. It must be adjusted to the full value of what the deceased would have contributed in his/her life, which life was cut short by those criminals,” he said.

Through the coordination of both governments Museveni states that the Turkana must return to the victim communities the number of cattle equal to the cattle they stole from them.

Museveni said that henceforth, the Turkana must never bring guns into Uganda. He added also that those who violate the order must be arrested and charged with terrorism via court martial.

Tension between Uganda and Kenya is not typical of the relationship between the two nations but it is far from new. Consider reading:

‘Migingo Island dispute doesn’t seem to be ending‘