For years border communities have fought each other over pasture and cattle in conflicts that have often led to deaths.
The biggest challenge—cattle rustling—has always been fuelled by readily available guns.
Uganda has tried to rid the Karamojong of the lethal guns through past disarmament but other countries including Kenya have failed in similar missions.
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni Thursday witnessed the historical signing of a peace deal towards the joint development of the marginalised Turkana-Pokot-Karamoja region along the border of the two countries.
The two Heads of State shook hands at Naitakwae Playgrounds in Moroto, in the Ugandan side of the border, after witnessing the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cross-Border Peace and Development on the border.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Uganda’s Minister for Karamoja Affairs John Byabagambi signed the pact in front of the two leaders and hundreds of top government officials from both countries.
For years the communities have fought each other over pasture and cattle in conflicts that have often led to deaths.
“This agreement will help us ensure long-lasting peace for our people. It is not only about peace but sustainable development,” said President Kenyatta.
On his part, President Museveni said his administration had initiated a range of projects aimed at improving the economy of the region saying it was the only to ensure the lives of the residents improved.
He said the peace agreement would give his government an opportunity to implement the projects in the Karamoja region.
“President Kenyatta understands the importance of unity in Africa. He has the best spectacles to see and know what is required for a good economy. We have lined up projects like cement, marble and gold factories in this region. We also have a honey and meat processing programmes here,” said Mr Museveni.
Illegal guns
The biggest challenge within the region has been cattle rustling that has always been fuelled by readily available guns.
Uganda has tried to rid the Karamojong of the lethal guns through past disarmament but other countries including Kenya have failed in similar missions.
In 2001, the Ugandan government managed to recover at least 40, 000 illegal guns during a mop up pushed by President Museveni in the region.
During that exercise, Turkanas who had been living in Uganda for years were said to have escaped to Kenya in droves to avoid losing their guns.
The two governments signed the MoU aiming to improve peace and encourage cross-border trade that has often been disrupted by distrust and frequent inter-community attacks.
No significant attack has been reported along the border for a while and business has boomed as traders from Lodwar in Turkana cross over to buy vegetables and grains from the markets in Moroto region that enjoys rains most of the year unlike the semi-arid Kenyan side.
However, bad roads on the Kenyan side has been blamed for stagnating business activities.
Mr Wamalwa said the agreement was a clear indication of the positive direction the two countries were taking in promoting East African unity.
“We are happy to be here in Moroto today. we are not here to complain about the challenges in our border but the great potential here. We hope that this will signify long lasting peace among the three communities,” said the CS who revealed that the two Presidents had pushed them to come up with the MoU since last May.
