In a powerful display of regional unity, leaders from Uganda’s Karamoja Sub-region and Kenya’s Turkana County have rallied for sustained peace and cooperation among pastoralist communities along the shared border.
The renewed appeal came during a high-level peace dialogue hosted at Ik Seed Secondary School in Kamion Sub-County, Kaabong District.
The event brought together the Karamojong, Ik, and Turkana peoples, alongside government officials, security agencies, and development partners.
At the heart of the dialogue was a call to transcend the cycle of violence and embrace development.
Hillary Lokwang, Member of Parliament for Ik County, encouraged residents to harness the region’s growing infrastructure and social programs.
“Embrace peace and make use of available programs and infrastructure,” he urged, noting key improvements such as upgraded road networks, cattle border markets, and enhanced telecommunications. “These are drivers of cross-border trade and mobility,” he added.
Security and governance were also central themes.
Kaabong’s Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Fidel Lokwang, condemned the culture of shielding cattle rustlers and criminals for political favor.
“We must stop defending wrongdoers for sympathy. Let us work together to build a lawful and peaceful society,” he said, commending President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s investment in transforming the Karamoja region.
On the security front, Col Allan Kyangungu, Deputy Commander of the UPDF 3rd Infantry Division, shared optimistic news of declining armed criminality, attributing it to ongoing disarmament initiatives.
“With the existing conducive environment, we remain committed to eliminating isolated criminal elements in the region,” he emphasized. He further encouraged local leaders to pivot communities toward agribusiness, including ventures like coffee farming.
Echoing the push for accountability, Senior Superintendent of Police Oese John Faustine, Deputy Commandant of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), called for stronger community engagement in identifying offenders.
He affirmed the continued deployment of both voluntary and forceful disarmament strategies “to ensure lasting peace.”
Development partners highlighted their contributions to building resilience and enhancing basic services.
Country Director Mr. David Gatare pointed to major projects including the repair of Kamion Road in Kaabong, rehabilitation of Kosiroi Health Centre in Moroto, and upgrades to Lokiriama Health Centre in Turkana.
From the Kenyan side, Assistant County Commissioner Mr. Kelvin Kariuki Mwangi lauded Uganda’s collaboration in resource access and intelligence exchange. He proposed establishing a joint advisory council to support vulnerable populations across the border especially children, women, and the elderly.
The forum was also graced by Edward Mwiti, Assistant County Commissioner for Lokichoggio, and a host of officials from both Kaabong and Turkana, who joined civil society actors and hundreds of local residents in endorsing the peace roadmap.
