The Ugandan government is demanding USD 4.3 million (approximately KSh 555 million) in compensation from Kenya following the killing of three Ugandan geologists and two Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers in a cross-border attack linked to suspected Turkana herders.
According to reports, the compensation demand was formally presented during bilateral talks between officials from Uganda and Kenya held in Kampala. Uganda reportedly described the compensation package as “non-negotiable,” insisting it reflects both the financial losses suffered by the victims’ families and traditional reconciliation expectations.
Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo and a high-level Kenyan delegation led by Presidential Special Envoy for Peace in the Ateker region, Hon. John Munyes Kiyong’a, recently unveiled the roadmap during high-level talks in Kampala.
The Kenyan delegation delivered a special message from President William Ruto to President Yoweri Museveni, with both sides agreeing to adopt the traditional “Okukaraba” cultural justice framework to guide reconciliation, compensation, and restoration of relations between affected communities instead of relying solely on conventional court processes.
Reports indicate that Kenya had earlier proposed a lower compensation offer, which Uganda rejected. Negotiations are still ongoing, with the Kenyan government expected to consult President William Ruto before making a final decision on the matter.
The five Ugandans were killed in March 2022 during a mineral exploration and mapping mission in Moroto District near the Kenya-Uganda border. The geologists, attached to Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, were under the protection of UPDF soldiers when suspected armed Turkana raiders ambushed the team.
During the attack, the assailants reportedly killed the officials and escaped with firearms belonging to the soldiers, escalating tensions between the neighboring countries.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has on several occasions demanded justice for the victims, including compensation and the handover of suspects believed to have participated in the killings.
The incident continues to highlight the longstanding insecurity and recurring cross-border conflicts involving pastoralist communities along the Kenya-Uganda border, particularly in Turkana and Karamoja regions.
