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{
    "id": 1282037,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1282037/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 83,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Deputy Speaker, it starts with a huge background. In March 2022, eight Turkana herders were arrested in Kotinda in the Karamoja area on suspicion of killing three Ugandan geologists and two Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers who were guarding the geologists in Lokisilei Village in Lotisan Sub-County, Moroto District. The eight Kenyans denied the charges and informed the Ugandan side that those who had committed the offense had returned to Kenya with the weapons of the two deceased UPDF soldiers. As a result, the accused eight Kenyans were found guilty of possessing weapons at a court martial in Moroto in April 2022 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The Ugandan authorities have consistently appealed to the Kenyan side to arrest the perpetrators of the killing of the three geologists and the two Ugandan soldiers, but the Kenyan side has not yet actualized this. It should be highlighted that while the Kenyan authorities have made steps to recover and return firearms stolen from Ugandan security forces, they are yet to apprehend the perpetrators of the killings. On 8th April 2023, the UPDF conducted a search operation within Turkana crowds in the areas of Lokiriaut, Rupa, and Naput in Moroto District and seized 27 AK-47 rifles, one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), 751 rounds of ammunition, 32 magazines, three sets of UPDF uniform and 19 bows and arrows. Consequently, 32 Turkana herdsmen were arrested and taken to Moroto Barracks to face court martial for possessing illegal firearms. All 32 suspects were rushed through a court martial process on 11th April 2023 and sentenced to 10 years for each of the two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. An important point to note is that any civilian found in possession of illicit firearms is subject to court martial under Ugandan law, specifically, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act, because the government deems them to be combatants. On 20th February 2023, a delegation from Kenya led by Ms. Rebecca Miano, the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, arrived in Moroto, Uganda, to negotiate the release of the Turkana herders with a delegation from Uganda led by General Salim Saleh. The matter escalated when His Excellency President Museveni responded by issuing a directive on 3rd March 2023, stating unequivocally that the problem of the geologists’ murder must be addressed before Uganda discusses the issue of amnesty and release of the Kenyan detainees. This was followed by Executive Order No.3 of 2023, issued on 18th May 2023, which, among other things, gave Kenya six months to answer to the geologists’ murder; otherwise, the Turkana would not be allowed to graze in Uganda. President Museveni also spotlighted The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}