Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called on the Kenyan government to compensate Uganda for the deaths of five Ugandans — three government geologists and two Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers — who were killed in Kenya’s Turkana region in March 2022.
Speaking during a rally at Kalas Girls Primary School on October 29, President Museveni said the matter could not be ignored and that Uganda expects Kenya to take responsibility.
He added that both governments will soon hold a joint event to formally resolve the issue.
According to Museveni, the ceremony will take place in Moroto District, in northern Uganda, and will be attended by President William Ruto. During the event, Kenya is expected to compensate the families of those who were killed.
“The Kenyan government will pay for the lives of those who died. After the elections, I will meet with President Ruto in Moroto for a ceremony where Kenya will make the payments,” Museveni said.
He further explained that the compensation would not only be financial but would also include a traditional cleansing ceremony, involving community elders, bishops, and Muslim leaders to help restore peace and harmony between the two neighboring communities.
“They will pay for the lives of our people who were killed. The elders will cleanse the blood, and our religious leaders will be part of the ceremony,” he added.
Museveni emphasized that justice must be served, saying he had already informed President Ruto about Uganda’s expectations.
“I told President Ruto that if the Turkana people responsible for the killings don’t have the money, then the Kenyan government must pay on their behalf,” he said firmly.
The incident in question took place in March 2022, when a group of Turkana warriors reportedly attacked and killed three Ugandan geologists who were working for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Two UPDF soldiers who were protecting the team were also shot dead during the ambush.
The Ugandan government blamed armed herders from Kenya’s Turkana region for the attack, which occurred near the border between the two countries — an area long known for violent clashes over cattle and grazing land.
Since then, relations between the local Turkana and Ugandan communities have remained tense.
While both governments have tried to restore calm, President Museveni’s latest statement signals that Uganda still expects formal compensation and acknowledgment of responsibility from Nairobi.
Museveni said the upcoming compensation ceremony would not only settle the matter financially but would also symbolize peace between the two nations.
“We want peace between our people, but there must be justice first. The debt must be cleared so that our communities can continue to live in harmony,” he said.
The Ugandan president’s remarks come as both Kenya and Uganda continue to work closely on border security, trade, and regional stability under the East African Community framework.
However, the 2022 killings remain a sore point in cross-border relations, and how Kenya responds to Museveni’s demand could influence future cooperation between the two neighbors.
