President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged for a shift in cross-border pastoralist practices and stronger bilateral coordination to end recurring insecurity along the Uganda–Kenya frontier.
This call came during a meeting with the Kenyan High Commissioner to Uganda, Joash Maangi, held on July 28, 2025, at State House Entebbe. The leaders discussed regional cooperation, with a focus on the Karamoja–Sebei–Turkana corridor and the shared issues around nomadic migration, border security, and the management of Migingo Island.
President Museveni emphasized the need for communities in the border regions to adopt permanent settlement and modern agricultural methods.
“We cannot continue with seasonal migrations that cause conflict. We are human beings, not wild animals,” President Museveni said.
He cited Israel as a model for successful farming in arid environments and encouraged the adoption of irrigation-based agriculture over pastoral nomadism.
“This nomadism, I have always said, is a result of ancient backwardness. We must tame nature, not surrender to it,” he added.
President Museveni also proposed a traditional justice mechanism to resolve past killings involving security forces in the conflict-prone areas.
“In our cultures, we have ceremonies for blood settlement where someone is forgiven upon compensation. Since the individuals responsible may not afford it, the governments and traditional leaders should come together and organize such a ceremony in Moroto,” he suggested.
High Commissioner Maangi welcomed the President’s proposals and gave an update on Kenya’s efforts to address recent tensions, particularly around Migingo Island.
“We took note of the issues, and we believe we resolved many of the outstanding concerns through dialogue,” Ambassador Maangi said.
He revealed that a Kenyan delegation had recently visited the island and engaged with local leaders, which helped de-escalate the situation.
On the broader issue of cross-border insecurity, Ambassador Maangi admitted Kenya was still catching up with Uganda in sensitizing local communities but noted progress.
“Our people were not fully sensitized like the Ugandan communities, but we have started making progress. Slowly, the message is being understood,” he said.
The High Commissioner also reported that he had visited several One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) including Busia and Suam to assess infrastructure and cooperation on cross-border trade and movement.
President Museveni welcomed Kenya’s efforts and reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to peaceful, cooperative, and mutually beneficial regional ties.
