This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
On September 17, 2019, Kenya and Uganda took a significant step towards ending the bloodshed in their long-troubled border region. The two countries signed a pact aimed at promoting peace and stability in the area, which has been notorious for armed conflict and cattle rustling.
The agreement, signed in Uganda last week, is a framework for initiating tangible development projects in the region. This move is long overdue, given the vast potential for growth in the arid and semi-arid regions. To unlock this potential, the two countries plan to build roads and other infrastructure, and boost trade.
While the bilateral effort between Kenya and Uganda is commendable, it would have had a greater impact as part of the initiatives of the East African Community (EAC). The regional economic bloc provides a bigger and stronger forum for addressing cross-border conflicts, such as the one experienced by South Sudan, another EAC member.
Hopefully, this is the beginning of a comprehensive effort to identify and exploit the vast hidden resources for development. Rampant insecurity has for years hampered the implementation of key projects that could dramatically improve people's lives. The leadership in both countries is upbeat that the time has come to unleash their huge potential.
