Museveni threatens to expel Turkana herders
Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has put on notice the Turkana herdsmen who occasionally cross into Uganda in search of pastures.
President Museveni warned the Kenyan herdsmen not to cross into Uganda with their guns.
The Head of State explained carrying guns in public is illegal in Uganda. He also accused the Turkana of raiding the Karimonjong community in Uganda and stealing 2,245 cattle.
President Museveni said three Ugandans were killed by bandits from Kenya, including a geologist, an officer and a soldier who was guarding them.
He ordered the stolen goods and guns used in the raid to be handed over, or he will take action, including expelling them from Uganda.
“I am giving the Turkana people six months to implement my directives… I will have no choice but to expel all Kenyan Turkana and their cattle, and they will never be allowed to re-enter Uganda with their cattle,” Museveni said.
In a statement, the President suggested that in order to end the problem of cattle rustling between Kenya and Uganda, the two countries should coordinate on the branding of cattle, which will indicate the district and sub-district of the cattle.
According to President Museveni, the community was allowed to cross the border in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, which has now become a destabilising factor for neighbouring communities.
The Ugandan leader also ordered those roads within the border points to be upgraded as a means of combating cattle rustling.
He said accessible roads would allow the army and police to move quickly into the areas when needed.
In April, a Ugandan court martial sentenced 32 Kenyans to 20 years in prison each for possession of illegal firearms.
The Turkana pastoralists from Orum in Lodwar were sentenced after pleading guilty and being sent to Moroto Government Prison in northern Kenya.
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