President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for a return to traditional reconciliation procedures to resolve persistent cross-border conflicts between nomadic pastoralist communities in the Karamoja–Sebei–Turkana corridor.

Speaking during a meeting with Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Joash Maangi, at State House Entebbe on Monday, President Museveni emphasized the importance of cultural mechanisms in addressing long-standing disputes.

“We cannot continue with seasonal migrations that cause conflict. We are human beings, not wild animals,” the President said, calling for a fundamental mindset shift among nomadic communities.

President Museveni proposed that Uganda and Kenya jointly organize a traditional reconciliation procedures to reconcile past killings involving both civilians and security personnel.

“In our cultures, we have ceremonies for blood settlement where someone is forgiven upon compensation. Since the individuals responsible may not afford it, the governments and traditional leaders should come together and organize such a ceremony,” he explained.

The President also challenged the region to abandon nomadic pastoralism in favor of more sustainable practices, including planned settlement and irrigation-based agriculture, pointing to Israel’s success in arid-land farming.

“This nomadism, I have always said, is a result of ancient backwardness. We must tame nature, not surrender to it,” he stressed.

Ambassador Maangi commended Uganda’s efforts in handling border issues and provided an update on the status of Migingo Island, following discussions with local leaders during a recent Kenyan delegation visit.

“We took note of the issues, and we believe we resolved many of the outstanding concerns through dialogue,” he said, noting ongoing sensitization efforts targeting communities on the Kenyan side of the border.

“Our people were not fully sensitized like the Ugandan communities, but we have started making progress. Slowly, the message is being understood,” he added.

President Museveni welcomed the update on Migingo, affirming that Uganda remained committed to peaceful and mutually beneficial solutions. “We are happy to preserve it for mutual benefit,” he noted.

The Kenyan envoy also briefed the President on inspections of One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) in Busia, Suam, and other locations.

“We discovered some laxity on our side and immediately engaged our officials. Uganda is our biggest trading partner, and we won’t allow any disruptions to that relationship,” Maangi said.

He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to regional integration and seamless cross-border trade, pledging to urgently address all raised concerns.