Uganda security officers detain herders, cattle

By Lucas Ng’asike

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have seized five Kenyan herders and impounded more than 500 head of cattle on the Uganda-Kenyan border.

The herders from Oropoi in Turkana West were arrested inside Uganda after they crossed over with the animals in search of water and pasture.

Turkana West DC, Patrick Muirira confirmed the arrest of the Kenyan herders by the Ugandan Forces.

Muirira said the herdsmen were seized at a watering point when they were driving back the animals to Kenyan side near Nawountos Mountain along the Kenya-Uganda escapements.

The DC said the UPDF pounced on the herdsmen and arrested five of them before impounding the animals after they found them armed within Ugandan territory.

The administrator said the UPDF had earlier issued a stern warning against Kenyan herders crossing to Uganda with firearms.

"We have been warning our herdsmen not to cross to Uganda with firearms. But our herders feel insecure because of threats from other pastoralists in Uganda although the Ugandan forces had promised to protect them," Muirira said.

The DC said Kenya and Uganda had agreed to allow the communities to share water and pasture along their common borders during the dry spell with their full protection.

Protect herders

The administrator observed that since the UPDF agreed to protect Kenyan herders while in Uganda, cattle rustling menace along the Kenya-Uganda border had reduced.

The DC said they have discussed with the Uganda authorities to release the herders unconditionally adding that he has dispatched a team of security officers from Kakuma, Turkana West headquarters to meet the Uganda authorities around Nawountos to negotiate the release of the herders.

The security team is led by the Turkana West OCPD, Jonathan Ngala. Local cross border peace network organisations were also accompanying the negotiation team.

The DC said they were in contact with the Ugandan authorities over the matter and they were responding positively.

"We have talked to our counterparts in Uganda and they have agreed to release the herders and the animals to us," The DC said.