Stephen Odong Latek, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner told Uganda Radio Network in an interview over the weekend that the bulk of the impounded cattle were intercepted from government land in Lakang Sub-county despite earlier warnings of voluntary exit issued to the cattle keepers.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamoy said on Friday that he received a letter from the President revealing that some cattle keepers were already fleeing forceful eviction from the region leaving behind their cattle.
Maj. Turyamumanya notes that during this period, they are encouraging the cattle keepers who are unable to fence off their land and meet all their requirements to voluntarily leave or face forceful expulsion.
The resolution by the leaders cancels all illegal sales of land to the cattle keepers and all land titles and leases illegally issued the "balaalo", in addition to instituting stringent measures to prevent easy land acquisition.
The verification exercise commenced in Atiak Town Council, Amuru District where the committee members met over 35 pastoralists operating in the area. They were tasked to produce documents on land acquisition, and compliance with set policies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF), and the National Agricultural Research Organization-NARO.
Christopher Omara, Nwoya Resident District Commissioner who took over office barely a month ago says he found that only 11 pastoralists out of more than 50 have reportedly left the district voluntarily.
According to information obtained by Uganda Radio Network-URN, the vast chunks of land are being owned by 124 livestock keepers from Western and South Western Uganda, rearing an estimated 11,766 heads of cattle.
An estimated 5,000 pastoralists, mainly from the Karamoja region, entered the north with over 10,000 livestock. The region also had an influx of pastoral communities from South Sudan and Kenya, who entered through the West Nile and Karamoja borders.
