Uganda imposes tax on cross-border Kenyan pastoralists

The fate of Kenyan pastoralists who have crossed the border to the neighbouring country Uganda remains unknown after the Ugandan government decided to impose tax on animals that were grazing in the country.

According to pastoralists from North Pokot, in West Pokot County, the Uganda administrators were imposing a tax of Ush.5, 000 – an amount that they thought was punitive, especially because they moved into Uganda because drought had ravaged their homes.

Livestock Permanent Secretary Andrew Turgoi however said Kenyan government has initiated talks to exempt pastoralist from grazing tax in Uganda.

Speaking in Kitale during the launch of vaccination exercise targeting more than 5 million cattle in Kenya and Uganda, the PS said that the taxation was unnecessary.

Turgoi urged pastoralists from the region to maintain calm, saying there was no cause for alarm as the Kenyan government was still holding talks with the Ugandan administration.

“We cannot tax animals when they cross the border in search of pastures and water,” he said.

Pastoralists have expressed fear that if the directive to tax animals is imposed, it will disunite the communities living along the border – friction that they say could lead to the re-emergence of cattle rustling.