UHRC Summons MP Olanya Over Hate Speech Against Balaalo Community

Gulu, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Summons MP Gilbert Olanya Over Alleged Hate Speech Against Balaalo Community

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has taken action against Kilak South Member of Parliament, Gilbert Olanya, summoning him for his alleged use of hateful speech aimed at inciting violence against the Balaalo community in the Acholi Sub-region.

A video that recently gained widespread attention shows Olanya meeting with Acholi community members and allegedly inciting them against the Balaalo, who are accused of encroaching on Acholi land. In the video, the MP is said to have urged the people of Acholi to drive the Balaalo (pastoralists) off their land, stating, “The Balaalo must go, leave Acholi land.” He also launched a movement called “Chase Balaalo away from Acholi land.”

Mariam Wangadya, Chairperson of UHRC, addressed the media, expressing concern over Olanya’s actions. She described his statements as divisive, sectarian, discriminatory, unlawful, and constituting hate speech against the Balaalo community.

Initially scheduled to appear before the commission on Tuesday, Olanya requested to reschedule the meeting to Thursday at 10 a.m. However, when the MP failed to appear more than one and a half hours after the agreed time, Wangadya addressed the press and summoned him to appear before the commission on Monday.

Olanya, in response to the summons, stated that his call to the Acholi people was merely a reflection of President Museveni’s order to have the Balaalo evicted.

Wangadya emphasized that every Ugandan has the right to live in any part of the country, provided they do so legally and occupy land formally. She urged the police to enforce laws against sectarianism as outlined in the Penal Code Act and called for government agencies and the President to address the issue of sectarian and hateful speech, which she referred to as a “monster.”

Wangadya instructed UHRC’s regional offices to record cases of hate speech and report them periodically to headquarters for further action, highlighting the importance of avoiding discrimination in a country with diverse cultures and ethnicities.

The longstanding conflict involves the Balaalo, who originate from Western Uganda and neighboring Rwanda, settling on land in Teso and Acholi regions, despite resistance from local residents who accuse them of forcefully taking over their land.

In 2021, President Museveni appointed a committee to evict the Balaalo from Northern Uganda, but the deadline set for the eviction was extended with no action taken. A verification committee later found evidence of illegal land occupation by some Balaalo in the Acholi subregion but the government has not yet determined its position on the matter.

President Museveni recently encouraged coexistence between the people of Acholi and the Balaalo, further complicating the situation and leaving some Acholi residents feeling unprotected and disgruntled.

When asked whether UHRC should address the root cause of the conflict rather than condemning one group, Wangadya indicated that there was no conclusive evidence yet to support such an argument. She noted that the commission is investigating the matter, but her current focus is on hate speech. Wangadya suggested that individuals with land ownership grievances should seek legislative solutions for redress.