The joint security forces of Uganda have handed over six Turkana suspects to the Turkana County Government in Kenya. The suspects were arrested for their involvement in cattle rustling in the Karamoja Sub-region and were handed over at the Moroto army barracks.
Brig Gen Felix Busizoori led the Ugandan security side and handed over the suspects to his counterpart, Mr. Peter Eripete, County Secretary and head of the public service for Turkana County.
The handover of the suspects was carried out as a gesture of peaceful co-existence and brotherhood between the two neighbouring countries. Brig Gen Busizoori emphasized the importance of adhering to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two countries to guide their coexistence and grazing activities.
While the Turkana suspects were handed over to the Turkana County Government, eight native Matheniko suspects will face charges in Uganda\’s courts. Brig Gen Busizoori warned that the diplomatic pardon given to the suspects should not be taken for granted as it may lead to impunity. He emphasized that anyone who violates Ugandan laws in the future will be arrested, arraigned before courts, and charged accordingly.
Officials on both sides of the border continue to work towards finding lasting solutions to enable Turkana pastoralists to coexist peacefully with their host communities in Uganda. The continued violations of the MoU by some armed Turkana elements who engage in criminal and rustling activities in Uganda underscore the importance of security measures to promote peaceful co-existence and foster socio-economic transformation and development within neighbouring pastoralist communities of EAC.
