Members of Parliament on Thursday, August 24, expressed their displeasure at Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni over the ultimatums he issued to the Kenyan government, which is seeking the release of 32 headers imprisoned for 20 years in the neighbouring country.
In a statement read to Parliament by the leader of the Majority, Kimani Ichung'wah, Museveni wants Kenya to compensate families of five Ugandans who were allegedly killed in Karamoja by herders from Turkana County before releasing the convicts.
Museveni is also seeking to have the suspected killers repatriated to Uganda to face murder charges.
Led by the leader of the Minority, Opiyo Wandayi, the MPs argued that Uganda was inconsiderate with its demands, noting that it was unfair for Museveni to link the two unrelated cases.
The Ugunja lawmaker also demanded that the government take more action in seeking the release of the Kenyans who he expressed were imprisoned unfairly. According to Wandayi, Kenya was appearing weak in negotiations between the two countries.
"It is as if we have nothing to hold Uganda, yet we know that we need each other. It is like they are doing us a favour by releasing those who we believe are being held wrongfully," Wandayi wondered.
"Why can't they release those herders to Kenya and then plead for the authorities to find those responsible for the killings?" He added.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Ojiambo concurred and opined that Uganda was using the herders of Kenya as bait, contrary to international human rights practice.
The MP also urged the government to seek the release of Kenyans who were arrested by Ugandan soldiers along Lake Victoria on separate occasions.
"Uganda should know that we have economic and military power beyond what they have. How can we allow Kenyans to go and get tried in Uganda yet we have a better judicial system? That is actually demeaning," he shared.
Following the concerns raised by the legislators, Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei directed that the Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee handle the matter and submit a report to Parliament.
The 32 herders were sentenced to serve 20 years in prison in April after being found guilty of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.
