Kenya and Uganda are inching closer to a long-awaited peace deal aimed at ending decades of violent conflict between the Turkana and Karamojong communities living along the two countries’ shared border.

During a bilateral meeting at State House Nairobi on Tuesday, Presidents William Ruto and Yoweri Museveni agreed to fast-track the signing of a landmark cross-border resource-sharing agreement that will allow pastoralists from both sides to access water and pasture under a peaceful and structured arrangement. Museveni is in the country for an official visit.

Ruto described the upcoming agreement as a critical step toward lasting harmony between the two neighbouring communities that have long clashed over grazing land and water resources.

“I appreciate that, following consultations, we will shortly be signing the agreement on sharing of resources between the Karamojong and Turkana communities in the northern part of Kenya and Uganda,” Ruto said. “This will facilitate greater harmony between the communities living in that area.”

The agreement, now in its final stages, is expected to ease long-standing tensions, especially in the conflict-prone Turkana-Karamojong border corridor, which has witnessed frequent cattle raids, armed confrontations, and arrests of Turkana herders by Ugandan forces.

Ruto also thanked Museveni for responding to Kenya’s concerns over its citizens held in Ugandan prisons.

“On behalf of the people and government of Kenya, and particularly on behalf of Turkana County, I sincerely appreciate your consideration of some of our Kenyans incarcerated in Uganda,” he said. “We look forward to having a conversation on how this can be resolved, both at the government level and the cultural level.”

In April 2023, 32 Kenyan pastoralists from Urum and Lokiriama villages were arrested during a disarmament operation by Uganda’s security forces. They were tried and sentenced to 20 years in prison but were later released after a year. The incident intensified calls for a formal agreement to address cross-border resource access.

Recurring droughts in northern Kenya have worsened the situation, pushing Turkana herders across the border in search of pasture and water for their livestock. Previous peace efforts led by local leaders from both sides, including a February 2023 meeting chaired by Uganda’s senior presidential adviser on Defence, Salim Saleh, highlighted the urgency of a lasting solution.

“These agreements signify our joint resolve to turn our cooperation into practical results that will directly uplift the lives of both our peoples,” Ruto added, underscoring that the deal is more than just a diplomatic move.

Apart from the resource-sharing pact, the two leaders also discussed wider cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and regional security. Ruto expressed optimism that the agreement will be finalised before the end of the year.