The Balaalo with more than 2,000 heads of cattle were chased away by the residents of Ongongoja on Wednesday January 11, 2023 over struggle for pastures and water for the animals. The residents also accused the Balaalo of interfering with their economic and agricultural activities when they failed to manage animals.
Balaalo herdsmen are struggling to beat an ultimatum of
three days given to them to leave Katakwi district.
The Balaalo moved with their cattle to Katakwi with more than 2,000 heads of cattle after being chased
away by the residents of Ongongoja on January 11th, 2023 over struggle
for pasture and water for the animals.
The residents also accused the Balaalo
of interfering with their economic and agricultural activities when they failed
to manage animals.
They were forcefully driven out of the grazing land in
Ongongoja to Katakwi district headquarters where the security agencies
intervened. But the attempts by the security heads and some leaders to convince
the residents to allow the Balaalo return to Ongongoja failed as residents
threatened to cause destruction once the Balaalo return.
At Katakwi district headquarters, the Balaalo were given up
to Sunday to leave the district as residents continued to pursue them. By Saturday night, some of the Balaalo were
seen ferrying cattle in lorries to different destinations including Serere and
Kapelebyong within Teso sub region while others were seen heading to Sebei sub
region.
Sam Mugisha, with 69 heads of cattle says he was chased away
on Thursday last week with some of his colleagues. “We have a lot of pressure to move out of the district that
is why we are traveling at night. Even today (Saturday), we were attacked and
we had to mobilize for transport at all costs to leave the district," said Mugisha.
Ateso
//Cue in" “Ati a pressure ngon…
Cue out…abunere kuare.”//
Kethron Mugowa, says he was picked by the LC3 Chairperson of
Ongongoja from the wetland without any notice. He says he has lost ten cattle
in the process.
//Cue in “They have given…
Cue out…where I am going.”//
Vincent Okwii, the Katakwi Deputy Resident District Commissioner
says that attempts to convince the residents and their leaders for negotiations
failed because the community is agitated by the presence of the Balaalo.
According to Okwii, some Balaalo had acquired land, others
were renting while some were herdsmen hired by the indigenous people in Ongongoja
to graze their animals but the commotion has not given the security team to
sort them.
//Cue in “You know when…
Cue out…will be going.”//
Information obtained from the security agencies in Katakwi
indicate that Ongongoja Sub County has been hosting close to 2,000 heads of
cattle belonging to the Balaalo but the issues of disagreement arose from
failure from both parties to share the resources (grass and water).
The security sources say that
while some of the Balaalo claim to have bought or rented land in Ongongoja, the
said land was too small compared to the number of animals by individuals and
households.
The source added that the Balaalo forcefully took extra land
and denied the indigenous people water and pastures.
Statistics available in the district indicate that only
Balaalo households had bought land in Ongongoja, eleven households were renting
grazing land while the majority were either hired herdsmen or grazing without
renting or buying land from residents.
