2,000 Kenyan pastoralists cross to Uganda as drought hits

Kotido/Kaabong.

Severe drought which has persisted for months in northern Kenya has now pushed more than 2,000 Turkana pastoralists into Uganda.
The herders crossed last week with their livestock which are currently grazing in areas of Loyoro and Kamion Sub-county in Kaabong District in Karamoja sub region in the north-eastern Uganda.

The movement comes after Uganda leaders approved the request by Turkana leaders to Uganda to allow them cross over.
The Kaabong District Chairperson, Mark Abuku, said pastoralists have already reached five kilometres within Uganda.
“I can’t tell their exact number but it might be more than 2,000. So we are waiting for the Kenya team to come and tell us their number and also we shall need to sign a memorandum of understanding, “he said.
The Minister in charge of Karamoja affairs, Mr John Byabagambi, said Uganda has no problem with allowing other foreign herders from entering and grazing in the region as long as they are not armed.

“We can’t refuse them from coming into Uganda because we are now under East Africa but they should not come with their guns,” he said.
Last year during the Tarehe Sita celebrations held in Moroto, president Museveni warned that he will not tolerate Kenya Turkana and Pokot pastoralists who enter into Uganda with guns.
The Turkana and Pokot of Kenya are free to move with their livestock in Uganda but on condition that they don’t come with guns if they dare come with guns we will give them ‘horizontal arrangement’,” he said.