President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the Balaalo with non-fenced farmland in the Greater North to leave the region within a three weeks from now ultimatum.
This, according to Museveni, is recklessness because there is no way one can destroy crops and be left un touched under his watch.
Earlier on, the people of Acholi had reported to the President how some Balaalo illegally took over their land and how they mistreat them.
“I direct the Division Commander and the regional police Commander plus the Minister of Northern Uganda to issue orders for these people to move their cows. Anybody who has got cows in a non-fenced area, they must go. All of them,” the President said.
“They must all go and I give them three weeks to leave, and they should not go to invade other areas of Uganda, they should sell the cows, get money and do other things.” He added.
President Museveni issued the order on Friday, while meeting residents of Okidi, Atiak sub-county in Amuru district in a visit aimed at addressing the growing crisis of the settlement of Balaalo in the region.
In this meeting, the president disclosed that when he passed an Executive Order banning the Balaalo from Acholi, he started to hear different voices from people but, he always wanted to hear everybody to know their side and solve the issue harmoniously.
Museveni also revealed that from his analysis, the disagreement between the Balaalo and the people of Greater North mainly stems from the issue of destruction of crops and ownership of land in the area.
“To have people destroying people’s crops is totally not acceptable, I just want to crosscheck briefly but it’s clear that if you have got cattle in an area which is not fenced, then obviously, they are liable to cause damage to people’s crops,” he explained.
On the other hand, President Museveni cautioned the people of Acholi and Greater North at large against land fragmentation and also asked cultural leaders to adjust on the laws governing clan land to facilitate development.
“There’s another disease which I don’t want you, the Acholi, to catch, this sub-dividing of the property when the head of the family dies. You, the cultural leader and other leaders, need to help me educate our people adopt the use of shares as this helps to sustain family wealth.” He explained.
Kilak North Member of Parliament, Hon. Anthony Akol told the President that the Executive Order No. 3. Which he passed clearly addresses the issues affecting the people of Acholi as far as the Balaalo are concerned.
“When we came here last Wednesday, we had like eight people whose gardens had been destroyed by animals. That was Wednesday only but on a daily basis, people’s crops are being destroyed,” the legislator highlighted.
The Amuru District LC5 Chairperson, Mr. Michael Lakony said the matter is no joke and should be dealt with the utmost attention it deserves.
“Your Excellency, you have come to Amuru to restore order and this order is not questionable. We have a local community within Okidi that could not farm because cattle are masquerading and eating their crops,” Mr. Lakony said.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, the Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Hon. Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, Members of Parliament, cultural leaders, among others.