More than 50 pastoralists who had previously settled in Yumbe and Moyo districts are reportedly sneaking to settle along the disputed Uganda-South Sudan border amidst their impending eviction.
On 19th May, President Museveni issued Executive Order Number 3 of 2023, which among others banned the illegal presence of Balaalo herdsmen in Northern Uganda districts. The President further directed all the government agencies to ensure that the herdsmen are expelled from Northern Uganda initially by the end of June 2023, which has now been postponed to October 20, 2023.
According to the local leaders in Yumbe and Moyo districts, the herdsmen are settled along the disputed Uganda-South Sudan border areas of Kochi Sub County in Yumbe district and Lefori Sub County in Moyo district.
Williams Anyama, the Moyo LC V Chairperson told URN that the Balaalo pastoralists took refuge in the area in May when President Museveni issued the directive for their eviction.
According to Anyama, they have got reports that the herdsmen have been paying ground rent to KajoKeji County Authorities in South Sudan in order to use the land and yet there is a dispute over the border between Uganda and South Sudanese authorities.
Mathew Vuyaya, the Deputy RDC Yumbe says that the illegal settlement of the Balaalo herdsmen along the disputed Uganda-South Sudan border will be investigated to determine how they acquired the land on which they are currently settled. According to Vuyaya, those who will be found without proper documents will not be spared during the enforcement of the president’s executive order.
Last week while announcing the extension of the deadline for evicting cattle keepers from Northern Uganda, Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, the State Minister for Northern Uganda, said the extension is to allow time for President Museveni to read the report of the inter-ministerial technical committee before he communicates the next course of action.
The executive order also banned commercial charcoal trade in Acholi and West Nile sub-regions because of its detrimental effects on the environment.
-URN
