The Democratic Party (DP) has asked government to buy land for herdsmen commonly known as abalalo in order to resolve land conflicts in Northern Uganda.
While addressing the press, the Acting Spokesperson of DP, Ismail Kiirya revealed that, it’s presumed that the herdsmen came from other parts of the country to Northern Uganda in 2017, and are currently occupying areas of Agago, Pader, Lamwo and Gulu districts, particularly Palar sub county.
He stated that, as DP, they are questioning the interest of President Museveni in herdsmen since he is not looking at the issues of Acholi.
“When the Acholi people wanted to send them away, the President protected them by this executive order no. 3. According to the order, the herdsmen were meant to leave on 20th October 2023. Now the President has added them more 20 days, meaning that they’re to leave on 15th November 2023,” Kiirya said.
On Sunday, October 22, 2023, the State Minister for Northern Uganda, Grace Freedom Kwiyocwiny who represented the Head of State told journalists that, she had received a communication from President Museveni, declaring the extension until November 20, 2023. President Museveni extended the implementation of Executive order no. 3 of 2023 by another 20 days.
According to the Minister, the President extended the order to give him an ample time to study reports of the herdsmen operations in the Northern region.
She said that, President Museveni now wants to meet the Acholi people and the herdsmen regarding the issue.
However, Kiirya said that, if the government continues handling the issue of balalo sluggishly, it may result into a tribal issue since herdsmen have been inconveniencing the people of Acholi.
He further noted that, Acholis claim that, the Balalo have caused insecurity and that many people are using them to manipulate the locals to get cheap land in the region.
“They also illegally acquired land which was meant to be customary. Crops are being destroyed when these cows are grazing etc. Let the government buy for them land since it has interest in them, or lead them to go back where they came from. And we are sure, government knows where these people came from,” Kiirya noted.
The issue of Balalo encroaching on the land for Acholi people has been a source of conflict in the Northern region, with disputes arising over land ownership and use. The conflicts range from family-based disagreements to border dispute. Communities on both sides of neighboring Gulu and Agago districts in northern Uganda have been collaborating to address their problems, in spite of the ongoing challenges and changes in the area.
