Museveni Issues Demands to Ruto Govt, Warns Select Kenyans Living in Uganda

President Yoweri Museveni addressing an event on May 17, 2023 (left) and President William Ruto speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast on June 7, 2023 (right).
President Yoweri Museveni addressing an event on May 17, 2023 (left) and President William Ruto speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast on June 7, 2023 (right).
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Yoweri Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday, June 7, demanded that Kenya extradites suspects accused of killing three geologists in the Karamoja Region, Uganda, in March 2022.

Speaking during the State of the Nation address in Kampala, the Head of State acknowledged that Kenyan authorities had returned guns stolen during the incident without surrendering the suspects.

"Where we need to partner with Kenya is in Turkana and we shall do it. They (individuals from Turkana) even killed our geologists. I want those who killed the geologists to be brought back.

"They brought back the guns and not the killers," stated Museveni.

President Yoweri Museveni inspecting his cattle in Kisozi on November 19, 2019.
President Yoweri Museveni inspecting his cattle in Kisozi on November 19, 2019.
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Yoweri Museveni

Further, he warned that he would not allow a section of Kenyans to stay in the country following accusations of their engagement in gun smuggling.

He alleged that there were Kenyans - especially those from the nothern parts of Kenya - using the guns to raid cattle from Ugandan residents and crossing over with the herd to Kenya.

"They must stop entering Uganda with guns and I do not want to hear any incident of those people raiding Uganda if they want to stay here," Museveni warned.

During his address, the President, however, acknowledged that the police in Uganda needed to work with their Kenyan counterparts to stop the vice.

Museveni explained that the orders were in line with an anti-cattle rustling executive order he issued on May 26 banning a number of activities such as the charcoal trade.

He also indicated that his government would take action against communities in Uganda accused of stealing cattle and putting them up for sale in Kenya.

The killing of the geologists in 2022 caused a diplomatic tiff between Kenya and Uganda - a move that saw former President Uhuru Kenyatta's government issue an apology a month after the incident.

Through former Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, John Munyes, the government sought a peaceful resolution after the incident affected pastoralists in Turkana.  

“If it was not for Uganda, Turkana cows would have been finished by now and that is why we are pleading with Uganda to allow the Turkana to return and graze their livestock in Karamoja,” he stated then.

Kenya-Uganda border crossing post in Busia County.
Kenya-Uganda border crossing post in Busia County.
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Ministry of Interior
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