Kayunga Pastoralists, Ssabanyala Clash over Grazing Space

Pastoralists in Kayunga District and the Banyala Chiefdom leader Captain Baker Kimeze are embroiled in a conflict over grazing land.  

The pastoralists under the ‘Abaliisa Development Entrepreneurship Association-ADEA accuse Kimeze of using his royal guards to protect another group of pastoralists to graze their cattle. Last month Kimeze invited three pastoralists with more than 500 cows to graze on the land located in Galiraya Sub County.

The grazing space under contention belongs to National Forestry Authority-NFA measuring 3,373 hectares.

Samuel Tugume the ADEA Vice-Chairperson claims that the association secured a grazing license from NFA in 2016 authorizing them to use the land for only grazing animals. 

Tugume notes that the pastoralists that are being protected by the Kimeze lack health permits authorizing them to move their cattle from one place to another. He says that the lack of permits could result in an outbreak of cattle diseases that could wipe out their livestock. 

 //Cue in: “Abalunzi bwetwali... Cue out: ...district namba”// 

The Baizo LCI Chairperson Fred Ssonko says that the invasion of the pastoralists has created tension which could lead to clashes over grazing space. 

//Cue in: “Ekibira kino... Cue out: ...Abagobeddwa a mataba”// 

The Prime Minister for the Banyala Chiefdom Martin Luther Ssenkatuuka says that the pastoralists under ADEA are personalizing the grazing space. He says that a section of pastoralists requested the Ssabanyala to avail them grazing space after they were displaced by the rising levels of Lake Kyoga.

//Cue in: “Nasooka nembanyonyola... Cue out: ...bogeere kukabira”// 

The Resident District Commissioner Kayunga Elijah Madoi, says his office is not aware of pastoralists being displaced by water as claimed by the Ssebanyala. 

According to Madoi, people most of the people displaced are fishermen who were staying in landing site cells at Kawongo, Namalere and Kisalizi.

According to Aisha Alibahi, the NFA Spokesperson, only pastoralists with licenses are supposed to graze on the designated central reserves.  She notes that whoever carries out any pastoral work on NFA land without licenses risks arrest and animals confiscated.