By Okidi Patrick
OBONGI, UGANDA – The Obongi District security committee has successfully evicted over 200 head of Ankole cattle and apprehended seven associated nomadic pastoralists, known locally as the “Balalo,” in a decisive operation aimed at enforcing the government’s land protection policies.
The eviction, executed this week, is a direct implementation of Executive Order No. 2, recently issued by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, which targets unauthorized grazing and settlement by nomadic groups across the country.
Speaking to the press, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Obongi, Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, confirmed the successful operation, highlighting the district’s commitment to restoring order and addressing land conflicts fueled by illegal grazing.
“The security committee has acted swiftly and firmly in compliance with the Presidental directive,” RDC Hashaka stated. “This latest exercise on Wednesday involved the removal of over 200 cows and seven Balalo herdsmen who were illegally occupying and destroying agricultural land in Obongi.”
However , due to a broader enforcement, RDC Hashaka provided figures illustrating the extensive nature of the enforcement effort being undertaken in the West Nile region.
“Our actions are part of a continuous security effort. Since the serious enforcement of the Executive Order began, the security committee has so far managed to evict a cumulative total of over one thousand (1,000) Balalo cows from Obongi district and parts of neighboring Yumbe district,” he explained.
The influx of nomadic pastoralists into Northern Uganda districts has been a persistent source of conflict, often leading to clashes with local sedentary farming communities over access to pasture and water resources. The Presidential directive provides a stringent legal framework for local authorities to clear the right people or groups and protect community land ownership.
The district leadership emphasized that the security operation will continue until all unauthorized pastoralists are removed from the district boundaries.
The enforcement exercise involves coordinated efforts among the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and the local political administration to ensure the safe and peaceful removal of the unauthorized cattle and herdsmen, thereby guaranteeing the long-term security and livelihoods of the local residents.
352 words
gemini-2.5-flash
Buy me a coffee
2.
By Okidi Pat
About the Author
