During a monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the eviction exercise in Madi Okollo, Nebbi, and Pakwach, Dr. Omona said animals have already been vaccinated, and the exercise will soon resume.
Security personnel in Northern Uganda will soon resume the eviction of migrant cattle keepers commonly known as balaalo, the State Minister for Northern Uganda, Dr. Kenneth Omona, revealed.
In 2023, President Yoweri Museveni issued Executive Order Number 3, which stopped the migrant cattle keepers from grazing cattle in northern Uganda by June 30th of the year.
According to Museveni, the cattle keepers were leaving their animals to roam on people’s crop gardens, hence, causing food insecurity.
However, in November 2023, the eviction was halted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, FMD, which affected more than 30 districts.
During a monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the eviction exercise in Madi Okollo, Nebbi, and Pakwach, Dr. Omona said animals have already been vaccinated, and the exercise will soon resume.
The exercise will be headed by the 4th Division Commander and the Commander of the 5th Division, with support from police.
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Dr. Omona revealed that, much as the exercise was halted, they have been updating their list of illegal migrant cattle keepers for at least 6 months.
He said they have received complaints that the cattle keepers transport their cattle using the ferry at Panyimur at night, before proceeding to other districts in the sub-region, yet locals who are also livestock farmers are barred from using the same transport means.
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Dr. Robert Canpara, the Pakwach District Veterinary Officer, faulted some district veterinary officers for issuing a letter of no objection to cattle owners, which makes it hard for security to intercept such animals.
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Dr. Canpara further claimed that some security personnel have engaged in the cattle trade, using their positions to obstruct local authorities from enforcing the eviction order.
According to a report from the Pakwach District Chief Administrative Officer, Moses Dalili, there are 1,698 cattle owned by the Balalo in the district. Of these, 346 cattle have been marked for eviction, leaving a balance of 1,352.
The report also indicates that there are 14 compliant Balalo in the district and 5 non-compliant, meaning their grazing land is unfenced and lacks a water source for the animals.
Felix Ogenrwoth
Freelancer