President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today November 3rd 2023 guided on the Acholi, Balalo issue saying that.
“I spent the afternoon in Amuru district with leaders from the Acholi sub-region discussing the issue of the nomadic pastoralists(Balalo). After listening to the various issues raised, I guided as follows:
1. Destruction of crops – I directed the UPDF Division Commander, RPC and the Minister for Northern Uganda to ensure that anybody with cows in an unfenced area in the Acholi, Lango and West Nile sub-regions to leave immediately but in any case not later than 3 weeks from today.
2. Land ownership- I will hold further discussions at a later date with the two groups (those aligned to the Executive order No.3 & those who are not ) on the issue of ownership and renting in the region.
3. Cultural clashes- Persons engaged in practices that are not compatible with the traditional norms of the Acholi community should desist with immediate effect.
4. Government land- Anybody occupying government land (Aswa ranch, Lakang, land acquired for the Madvhani group, etc.) must leave with immediate effect but in any case not later than 3 weeks from today.
5. Dairy farming – Government shall support the development of the dairy industry in the Acholi sub-region.
The president’s visit comes against the backdrop of an uproar among local leaders in the sub-region who have accused him of violating his own decision to evict the cattle keepers from the sub-region.
Leaders from the sub-region have on several occasions raised complaints to the President on the conflicts being witnessed between the locals and the cattle keepers over the illegal acquisition of vast chunks of customary land.
To address the complaints, President Museveni issued Executive Order No. 33 in May banning the illegal presence of cattle keepers from Northern Uganda by the end of June following years of complaints from local leaders.
