Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has declared that Kenya must compensate Uganda for the deaths of their experts and soldiers who were allegedly killed by Kenyans.
The demand stems from the March 2022 incident in which three geologists and two Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers were killed by Turkana warriors during a mineral mapping mission in Moroto District.
Speaking on October 29, during a rally at Kalas Girls Primary School grounds in Amudat District, Museveni reiterated that the matter must not be ignored and that redress is required.
Museveni Demands Compensation
Speaking at Kalas Girls Primary School grounds in Amudat District, Museveni said the Kenyan government must take responsibility if the perpetrators fail to provide restitution.
“The Turkana still have a debt as they must compensate the lives of people they killed. I told President Ruto that if these criminals don’t have money Kenyan government must pay,” Museveni said.
He added that after the elections, both governments would hold a joint ceremony in Moroto to settle the matter.
“The Kenyan government will pay for the lives of those killed. After the elections, I will perform a ceremony with President Ruto in Moroto for the Kenyan government to pay for the lives of our people who died and elders to cleanse the blood of the people who died. The bishops and sheikhs will also come in and contribute,” he stated.
Museveni emphasized that Uganda would not allow the matter to be forgotten or dismissed.
He said justice must be delivered either through financial compensation or traditional reconciliation.
The 2022 Karamoja Attack
The Karamoja attack occurred in March 2022 when armed assailants ambushed a Ugandan government team conducting a mineral mapping exercise in the Kubebe area of Lotisan Subcounty, Moroto District.
This team comprised geologists from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, accompanied by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers providing security during the operation.
Turkana warriors, who were the attackers, opened fire without warning, killing three geologists and two UPDF soldiers on the spot.
The assault took place in a remote, rugged area near the Uganda–Kenya border, making it difficult for security reinforcements to respond immediately.
Reports indicated that the assailants escaped after the shooting, seizing two rifles from the slain soldiers before fleeing across the border.
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Victims were on official duty, collecting geological data as part of a national mineral mapping project.
Their deaths shocked the nation and brought out persistent insecurity in parts of the Karamoja region, where armed raids and cross-border attacks had periodically disrupted government operations and endangered field personnel.
Developments from the Attack
Following the incident, President Museveni imposed tighter cross-border controls, barring Turkana herders from grazing their cattle within Ugandan territory.
The incident also accelerated disarmament and security operations in Karamoja to prevent further cross-border raids.
Additionally, he issued an executive order demanding that Kenya hand over the culprits for trial or organize a formal “blood settlement” for the deceased Ugandans.
He warned that the traditional form of paying a few cows would not suffice in this case.
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“You know, Banyankole believe a little bit in the law of Moses, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If you kill a member of our clan, we must also pay revenge. If you don’t want revenge, you come and we have blood settlement,” he told the crowd, drawing applause from residents.
Museveni noted that before the attack, Turkana herders had been permitted to cross into Uganda to graze their cattle, but this is no longer allowed.
He said the government’s decision to disarm the Karamoja region has helped maintain peace and prevent future incidents.
“I couldn’t accept this impunity of criminality. We now have peace, not only in Karamoja but in West Nile, Northern Uganda, which borders South Sudan, the Rwenzori Mountains, and Kisoro, which borders DR Congo. There is peace everywhere,” Museveni said.
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