KAMPALA, Uganda : Vice President Jessica Alupo has met with a high-level Kenyan presidential delegation in Kampala to establish a formal reconciliation roadmap addressing the 2022 killings of three Ugandan geologists and UPDF soldiers by suspected Turkana herdsmen in Karamoja.
The roadmap was officially launched, focusing on specific diplomatic and traditional steps:Traditional Justice and Compensation: Both nations agreed to use the “Okukaraba” cultural justice framework and provide compensation to the affected families rather than relying on standard judicial trials.
The Kenyan delegation led by John Munyes Kiyong’a, EGH delivered a direct message from President William Ruto, finalizing this compensation framework that Presidents Museveni and Ruto had previously discussed.
Regional Stability: The agreement seeks to heal the diplomatic rift and stabilize the Karamoja-Turkana border cluster, where violent resource conflicts have historically hindered regional integration and mineral mapping.
Speaking during the high-level engagement with a Kenyan presidential envoy in Kampala, VP Alupo conveyed Uganda’s appreciation for Kenya’s political will and concrete actions toward addressing the incident, describing the move as a demonstration of brotherhood and commitment to peace.
“On behalf of H.E. the President and the Government of Uganda, I wish to sincerely thank H.E. President Ruto and the Government of the Republic of Kenya for taking the courageous and principled step of formally engaging Uganda through this high-level diplomatic initiative. This is not a small matter — and President Ruto’s decision to send a Special Presidential Envoy with a personal message to President Museveni speaks volumes about the commitment of Kenya to healing the wounds caused by this tragic incident.” She said.
Alupo commended Kenya for taking decisive action on the ground in relation to the incident. “Uganda recognizes and deeply appreciates the concrete actions Kenya has already taken: the neutralization of the actual perpetrators of the killings of our geologists and UPDF soldiers by Kenyan security forces, the acceptance of the Okukaraba blood settlement framework proposed by President Museveni, and the commitment to formal compensation to the bereaved families. These are not words — these are actions, and Uganda takes note of them with gratitude.” She said
The vice president stressed that the killing of our geologists and soldiers in 2022 was a painful tragedy for the families who lost their loved ones, for the scientific community, for our defense forces, and for Uganda as a whole.
“It also strained relations between two brotherly nations that share so much. Today marks the beginning of the process of healing — and we welcome that with open arms,” Alupo said.
According to Alupo, the process of reconciliation is now anchored in the “Okukaraba” cultural justice framework, which she said goes beyond legal redress to restore social harmony.
“The Okukaraba is not merely a cultural ceremony, it is a profound and recognised mechanism for justice, healing and the restoration of social harmony.”
The Vice President noted that Uganda remains committed to working with Kenya to finalise compensation arrangements and ensure closure for bereaved families and affected communities.
“Uganda is fully committed to the Okukaraba framework that President Museveni proposed. The Okukaraba is not merely a cultural ceremony — it is a profound and legally recognized mechanism for justice, healing, and the restoration of social harmony. We are proud that our President proposed it, and that the Government of Kenya has accepted it. This shows that our two nations share not just borders, but wisdom,” Alupo said.
She further directed technical teams from both countries to immediately begin consultations to establish compensation mechanisms, timelines, and steps toward a formal reconciliation ceremony.
“I would now like to direct the two technical teams — Uganda’s Inter-Ministerial Technical Team and Kenya’s delegation — to begin their consultations freely, comprehensively, and without delay. Time is of the essence, and the families who have waited four years deserve to see this resolved.”
Alupo assured the delegation and through them, H.E. President Ruto, that Uganda will act in good faith and with urgency at every stage of this process. “The bereaved families of our fallen geologists and soldiers deserve a logical conclusion on the matter. The Turkana herdsmen currently in Kitalya Prison deserve a dignified resolution and resettlement back to their families and communities. And the communities along our common border deserve peace, security, and a future of shared prosperity,” the vice president said.
“Uganda notes with appreciation Kenya’s commitment to the bilateral MoU and Resource Sharing Agreement, which was initialed in 2024 and acknowledged in the Joint Communiqué of President Museveni’s State Visit to Nairobi in July 2025,” she said.
Alupo noted that Uganda looks forward to the formal signing of that agreement, which will provide the institutional framework for managing our shared border corridor in a sustainable and cooperative manner for generations to come.
Specifically, the 1st Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister for East African Community Affairs said Uganda’s technical team is directed to work with its Kenyan counterparts to develop a mutually agreed settlement formula for the Okukaraba blood settlement, including the quantum of compensation to be paid to the bereaved families of the three Ugandan geologists and two UPDF soldiers guided by the Attorney General’s legal opinion and in full consultation with the families.
Other directions to the technical teams include finalizing the arrangements for the formal signing of the Uganda–Kenya bilateral MoU and Resource Sharing Agreement, and propose a mechanism for its implementation monitoring.
Also identifying any additional outstanding issues relating to the normalization of bilateral relations, cross-border trade, and community security, and propose concrete bilateral cooperation measures to address them.
And submiting their joint recommendations to both Heads of State within the shortest possible timeframe, with clear timelines for implementation.
