Kenya, Uganda chart cross-border peace and development

Kenya and Uganda delegations today begun a three-day meeting in Nairobi to deliberate on peace, security, and development along their common border.The meeting will, among other issues, consider and review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two sister nations regarding the cross-border programme for sustainable peace and development that focused on the Karamoja, Turkana, and West Pokot common border areas.Among issues under discussion will be the cessation of hostilities between neighbouring communities, the elimination of the illegal flow of arms and ammunition, and the empowerment of local and county governments, to prevent conflicts and promote sustainable peace.Others are peacebuilding, community resilience, conflict management and resolution, cross-border trade and investment, and the elimination of harmful practices, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).The MoU under review also covers improvement of livelihoods, food security, and basic social services; improving infrastruc ture; free movement of people, livestock, and commodities, among others cross-border security and development issues.Further, the three-day meeting will also discuss the right to access shared resources between border communities of the Turkana and Pokot of Kenya and the Karamoja and Sebei of Uganda.Speaking during the opening ceremony, Kenya's Leader of delegation, Maria Cherono, said the primary goal of the bilateral engagement was to promote peaceful coexistence and improve livelihoods and socio-economic conditions for sustainable peace and development.'I believe that our collaboration on this initiative will not only benefit the communities we serve but also strengthen our partnership and contribute to our shared goals of promoting peace and development across borders,' she said.Her Ugandan counterpart, Dr. Andrew Musiime, said the discussions would also focus on long-term peace and investments along the border areas.The meeting will culminate in the signing of agreements by Kenya's Cabinet Secr etary for East African Community, ASALs, and Regional Development, Mrs. Beatrice Moe, and Uganda's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga.Source: Kenya News Agency