Uganda -Kenya Review 2019 MOU in Nairobi.
1DPM/Minister EAC Uganda, Rt.Hon Rebecca Kadaga (left) and Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, Minister for EAC, Kenya at the signing of agreed minutes of the Bilateral Engagement between the two countries.
On 12th September 2019. An MOU between the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Kenya was signed, which recognizes cooperation, close coordination in resource sharing, and peaceful coexistence, as well as bridging isolation gaps to improve livelihoods and socioeconomic conditions of cross-border communities for sustainable peace and development. The Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Kenya Ministers, permanent secretaries, and technical officers of countries convened in Nairobi, Kenya, and held a bilateral engagement with the theme; Safe, Orderly and Legal Cross Border Mobility for Peaceful Coexistence.’ The bilateral engagement to review the MOU signed in 2019 has been reviewed in a bilateral meeting that lasted for three straight days from 24th -26th September 2024 at the Weston Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The main objectives of the Bilateral Engagement were to review the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cross-Border Transformation Agenda for Uganda (Karamoja and Sebei) and Kenya (Turkana and West Pokot)that was signed on 12th September 2019 and negotiate the Cross-Border Resource Sharing Agreement (RSA) for communities of Karamoja Sub-region snd Sebei Turkana and West Pokot Counties. Before the main session of Cabinet secretaries/ministers began, the two countries held separate consultations with their senior officers as it was when Rt. Hon Rebecca KAdaga met the senior Officials from Uganda and held a bride discussion before the main meeting. The three-day bilateral elegant had a program organized with a session of a senior official of both parties meeting then Permanent secretaries and Cabinet Secretaries/ Ministers meeting on the last day. The meeting reviewed the old MOU clause by clause and made changes by deleting and introducing new provisions thereof to take care of new emerging issues to address the concerns of the two parties.
A group photograph of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and senior officials of Uganda and Kenya.
Among the critical issues necessary for the successful implementation, these were agreed :
- An implementation framework and annual work plans for the resource-sharing agreement have to be developed not later than one year from the date of signing.
- There should be annual reviews on the progress on implementation of the commitments in the resource sharing agreement.
The Republic of Uganda was well represented with Rt. Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga leading the Pearl of Africa delegation. In conclusion, the Bilateral Engagement was held cordially. The technical teams will meet no later than one month after the signature of the MOU and RSA to develop the implementation plan