Uganda Demands USD 4.3 Million From Kenya Over Killing of Geologists, UPDF Officers

Uganda has demanded USD 4.3 million in compensation from Kenya for the families of three Ugandan geologists and two Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers killed by Turkana warriors in 2022. The figure was tabled at a high-level bilateral meeting in Kampala, following President Yoweri Museveni’s directive to Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga to lead the negotiations.

The talks brought together senior officials from both countries, including representatives from the foreign affairs and defence ministries, the Attorney General’s chambers, and cultural leaders. In a statement, Uganda’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs said Kampala had presented “a non-negotiable compensation package of USD 4.3 million” for the five bereaved families, reflecting both financial loss and traditional principles of reconciliation drawn from the okukaraba heritage practice.

Kenya’s initial offer fell far below Uganda’s demand, proposing 77,000 Kenyan shillings per family — about USD 77,000 in total. The Kenyan delegation also met directly with the families, who detailed the depth of their loss and called for meaningful recognition through compensation, a meeting Ugandan officials said added moral weight to their case.

The session ended without agreement after the Kenyan side requested time to consult President William Ruto on Uganda’s proposal. The two delegations are expected to reconvene on Friday to hear Kenya’s formal position, in a decision that will determine whether the dispute is settled bilaterally or escalated through further diplomatic channels. The March 2022 attack, in which the Ugandan geologists and UPDF officers were ambushed and killed by Turkana warriors from Kenya, remains a deeply sensitive issue in both countries.