Summary:
- President Museveni suggests auctioning cattle abandoned by resistant migrant cattle keepers for school construction in Northern Uganda, as Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo confirms eviction efforts and logistical challenges in relocating evicted cattle.
President Museveni has proposed the auctioning of impounded cattle owned by resistant migrant cattle keepers, commonly known as Balaalo. The generated funds would then be allocated for the construction of schools in Northern Uganda.
On Friday, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamoy confirmed receiving a letter from the President, disclosing that some cattle keepers were fleeing forceful eviction, leaving their cattle behind. Owiny-Dollo shared this information while addressing journalists via Zoom about the ongoing eviction of cattle keepers in the Acholi Sub-region.
The Chief Justice mentioned that the President’s letter indicated the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbadi’s readiness to initiate the eviction through the Fourth Infantry Division headquarters.
This correspondence was circulated to various high-ranking officials, including the Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, Chief of Defence Forces, Prime Minister, Internal Affairs Minister, External Affairs Minister, legislators from Acholi and West Nile, the Special Forces Command, and the Commander of the Air Force.
Owiny-Dollo highlighted that the President suggested directing the army to confiscate abandoned cattle for subsequent auctioning. The proceeds from these auctions, pending approval from the Attorney General, would then be utilized for constructing schools in the respective areas.
Leaders from the region, including Justice Owiny-Dollo, are actively pursuing the implementation of Presidential Executive Order No.3, issued nearly two weeks after the expiry of the ultimatum given to non-compliant cattle keepers on November 24. The President had mandated these cattle keepers to provide water sources and establish robust fences for their animals.
Recent joint actions by security forces, comprising the army and police, initiated the eviction of defiant cattle keepers in the Acholi Sub-region. Notably, concerns have been raised about the reluctance of evicted cattle farmers to relocate their animals from holding grounds, hindering the eviction process. Local leaders emphasize the need for logistical support from the government to address this issue effectively.
State Minister for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation, Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, previously disclosed that approximately 80,000 herds of cattle in northern Uganda belong to non-compliant migrant cattle keepers lacking proper land fencing, adequate grazing land, and water sources.
