Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan agree on plans to mark shared borders
Source: The Kampala Post
by Nicholas Agaba
Saturday December 21, 2024
The 4th Tripartite Technical Boundary Committee (TTBC) meeting, involving Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan, was held from December 17 – 19 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Kampala. The meeting aimed to track progress on decisions made in earlier sessions in December 2019, September 2021, and December 2021. Key objectives included revising work plans and budgets for establishing the tri-junction and agreeing on a start date for reaffirming the boundary point.
Jacqueline W. Banana, Acting Head of the Department of Regional Peace and Security, led Uganda’s delegation. Kenya’s delegation was led by Juster Nkoroi, Head of the Kenya International Boundaries Office (KIBO), while South Sudan’s delegation was headed by Dr. David Nailo Mayo, Chairperson of South Sudan’s Transboundary Committee.
The meeting was officially opened by Uganda’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, who emphasised the importance of reaffirming and demarcating the tri-junction boundary. He highlighted the significance of resolving boundary disputes to promote regional stability, cooperation, and development. “The three nations are bound together not only by geography but by shared heritage, language, customs, and norms, including mutual interests in trade, security, and development,” Bagiire said.
Bagiire also acknowledged the support of the African Union Border Programme (AUBP), the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the East African Community (EAC). These partners have provided funds, equipment, and technical expertise while conducting sensitisation efforts to involve border communities in the demarcation process.
Banana, leading Uganda’s delegation, welcomed all participants and expressed gratitude to the African Union for funding the previous tripartite meetings. She reiterated that the sessions had laid the groundwork by agreeing on modalities, budgets, and work plans for establishing the tri-junction.
Juster Nkoroi, Kenya’s Head of Delegation, noted that significant milestones had been achieved, including seven sensitisation exercises and high-level meetings, such as the Ateker leaders’ forum in Moroto in November 2024 and a peace caravan in July 2023. She reaffirmed Kenya’s readiness to implement agreements on boundary reaffirmation, delimitation, and demarcation in line with the African Union’s 2027 deadline.
Dr. David Nailo Mayo, head of South Sudan’s delegation, acknowledged the longstanding support of the African Union Border Programme since its inception in 2007. He lauded the AU’s efforts in facilitating meetings and aiding in border-related initiatives.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the report on the Kenya-South Sudan-Uganda Tripartite Technical Boundary Committee’s progress, marking another step towards establishing the tri-junction boundary poin