Turkana, Karamoja Leaders to Draft Resource-Sharing Agreement
Turkana, February 24, 2023 – KNA
Leaders from Turkana County in Kenya and Karamoja region in Uganda are set to develop a formal agreement aimed at promoting peaceful sharing of cross-border resources and addressing rising conflicts.
The initiative was discussed during a meeting chaired by Uganda’s senior presidential adviser on Defence, Salim Saleh, at the Morulinga State Lodge in Napak District. The meeting brought together county officials from Turkana, led by Deputy Governor John Erus, and Ugandan MPs from Karamoja.
Saleh emphasized that the pact would help reduce conflicts between communities by clearly outlining resource-sharing routes, maps, and operational modalities. He also encouraged leaders to diversify livelihoods beyond pastoralism, exploring cross-border trade and mineral exploitation to boost regional economic growth.
Deputy Governor Erus conveyed Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai’s message of goodwill to President Yoweri Museveni and stressed Turkana County’s commitment to the peaceful coexistence of cross-border communities.
The county government of Turkana is dedicated to working jointly with our Ugandan counterparts to develop the agreement and implement the MoU on peace and development agreed during the Joint High-Level Security Mission, Erus said.
The Ugandan legislators expressed strong support for the proposed agreement, noting that it would help manage conflicts caused by the movement of pastoralists from West Pokot and Turkana counties into Uganda for grazing.
The agreement is expected to establish a structured framework for resource sharing, ensuring that both communities can sustainably graze livestock while minimizing disputes.