On 12 September 2019, I was honored to attend and witness the historic signing of the Memo of Understanding (MOU) for Cross-Border Peace and Development between Kenya and Uganda. The event, which took place in Moroto, Uganda, was hosted by two heads of state:  President H.E.Yoweri Museveni from the Republic of Uganda, and President Uhuru Kenyatta from the Republic of Kenya, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

In 2015, International Ministries and its global servants Dan and Sharon Buttry supported us as we facilitated a capacity-building Training of Conflict Transformation Trainers (TCTT) among former wrongdoers who became peace warriors.  TCTT built their capacity to resolve conflict and set a foundation for them to develop sustainable traditional ways of conflict resolution, which led to the development of this historic MOU. The agreement is a major boost to the efforts to ensure peaceful coexistence of the Karamoja, Turkana and Pokot communities who live along the border between Uganda and Kenya.  It will also develop better resource-sharing mechanisms to end conflicts over resources like pasture and water for livestock grazing. Indeed, this agreement will cement the community spirit of East Africa and transform the region, as peace is a key ingredient for development.   Additionally, it will encourage joint investment into cross-border infrastructural development to boost trade and the movement of people, facilitate diversification of livelihoods, and strengthen ties between communities, for sustainable peace and development.

While the MOU symbolizes the conclusion of a peace process, it simultaneously opens a new one, as the quality of the peace agreement and its implementation is only as good as its implementation by peace makers like you! I am very thankful that you prayed and supported this process; now let’s keep moving forward as we embrace “Our Peace! Our Responsibility!”.

Boaz