Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has renewed pressure on Kenya to compensate Uganda for the deaths of its soldiers and geologists who were killed by Turkana warriors during a 2022 attack in Moroto District.

Speaking during a rally at Kalas Girls Primary School in Amudat District on October 29, Museveni insisted that justice must be served either through financial compensation or a traditional peace ceremony.

The President revealed that he had discussed the matter directly with President William Ruto, emphasizing that the Kenyan government should pay for the lives lost if the assailants could not afford compensation themselves.

“The Turkana still have a debt,” Museveni said, adding that the matter could only be resolved once restitution was made.

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The Call for Blood Settlement and Cross-Border Peace

Museveni suggested that traditional reconciliation should be part of the process, noting that he and Ruto would hold a ceremony in Moroto after Kenya’s elections to cleanse the blood of those who died.

He said religious leaders, including bishops and sheikhs, would also take part in the ritual to foster peace between the communities.

He referenced cultural beliefs among the Banyankole, explaining that his people value justice rooted in restitution, “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” and that the only alternative to revenge is a proper “blood settlement.”

His remarks drew applause from the crowd, reflecting growing frustration over the unresolved deaths.

Museveni has maintained that Uganda will not let the killings be forgotten, urging Kenya to demonstrate responsibility by ensuring justice for the slain Ugandans.

2022 Moroto Attack and Its Aftermath

The deaths occurred in March 2022 when Turkana warriors ambushed a Ugandan mineral mapping team in Lotisan Subcounty, Moroto District.

The group, which included geologists from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers providing security, was attacked without warning.

Three geologists and two soldiers were killed on the spot, and their rifles were taken by the assailants, who fled toward the Kenyan border.

The tragedy, which took place in the remote and rugged border area, underscored long-standing insecurity in Karamoja and along the Uganda–Kenya frontier.

It also highlighted the dangers faced by government officers and researchers working in volatile border zones.

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Stricter Border Rules and Disarmament in Karamoja

Following the attack, Museveni imposed stricter measures to enhance border security and prevent further raids.

Turkana herders were banned from grazing their cattle in Uganda, reversing a long-standing arrangement that had allowed pastoralists from Kenya to cross for pasture.

The Ugandan leader also ordered intensified disarmament efforts in Karamoja to reduce gun-related violence and restore peace.

He credited these operations for the current stability in the region, saying, “We now have peace not only in Karamoja but also in the West Nile, Northern Uganda, Rwenzori, and Kisoro.”

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. PHOTO/ Museveni X