Kitgum | Former Aruu North County Member of Parliament, Odonga Otto, has issued a stern warning to the ruling NRM, vowing to rally the Acholi people to vote the party out of power in the 2026 general elections.
Otto said if the government fails to permanently remove the Balaalo pastoralists from Acholi land, the government ought to go.
Speaking passionately during a high-level consultative meeting organized by the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday at Kitgum district council hall, Otto accused the government of deliberately ignoring the plight of the Acholi people.
“We cannot allow our land to be invaded while the government turns a blind eye. If the Balaalo are not evicted, we will use the ballot in 2026 to send a clear message to Museveni and the NRM must go,” Otto declared, drawing applause from some attendees.
The Balaalo, a group of cattle herders predominantly from western Uganda, have long been accused of illegally occupying communal and private land in northern Uganda, especially in Amuru and Nwoya districts.
Despite previous efforts to remove them, many have returned, emboldened by what local leaders describe as weak enforcement and corruption within government agencies.
Amuru RDC Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, presented a worrying report to the meeting. According to the Amuru District Security Committee, 131 Balaalo individuals are currently managing a staggering 427,000 livestock in 237 kraals across five of the 13 sub-counties in the district.
“We are witnessing an alarming increase. Atiak alone has 106 kraals. How can a single sub-county accommodate this? It’s unacceptable,” Oceng said.
The breakdown by sub-county is as follows: Atiak: 106 kraals, Lakang: 40 kraals, Opara: 36 kraals, Pogo: 33 kraals, Layima: 22 kraals.
Oceng further shocked attendees by revealing that some Balaalo confessed to bribing officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAIF) to falsely declare a foot and mouth disease outbreak.
This, according to them, was done to stop the implementation of Executive Order No. 3 of 2023, which was designed to evict the Balaalo from northern and eastern Uganda.
“They told me they paid off officials in Kampala. As a government, we must act on this corruption. These are not just herders—they’re manipulating systems at the highest level,” Oceng lamented.
Government stalled by livestock disease
State Minister for Northern Uganda, Dr. Kenneth Omona, admitted that cabinet halted the enforcement of Executive Order No. 3 due to the reported livestock disease outbreak, but maintained that implementation would resume soon.
“The pause was temporary. We are developing a new implementation framework. However, this must be done with coordination from all leaders,” Dr. Omona explained. “Let’s not politicize this issue. The Balaalo must leave, but we must do it lawfully and without inciting conflict.”
Community outrage and desperation
Local leaders and residents at the meeting expressed anger and frustration over what they perceive as government failure to protect their land.
“These people [Balaalo] came with nothing but are now taking everything from us, land, water sources, and even our peace,” said Rose Acan, a resident of Lakang sub-county.
“Our gardens are destroyed. Our children no longer go to school because we are in constant conflict. We feel betrayed.”
James Oryem, a cultural leader in Kitgum, accused the government of ignoring traditional land ownership systems. “We have land governance mechanisms in Acholi.
“But all these are being trampled upon by powerful individuals using state resources to protect the Balaalo. This is not about cattle, it’s about identity, heritage, and survival,” he emphasized.
Call for unity and immediate action
Despite the tensions, leaders agreed on the need to speak with one voice in the face of increasing land conflicts. The meeting urged urgent resumption of Executive Order enforcement and the prosecution of officials found to have taken bribes.
“We must reclaim our land, but we must also protect our dignity. Let’s unite across political lines and ensure this order is implemented with the seriousness it deserves,” said Lilly Adong, Woman MP for Nwoya district.
The consultative meeting was attended by security officers, local government officials, political leaders, religious figures, and cultural elders from across the Acholi sub-region.
Many of them emphasized the need for accountability, transparency, and immediate action to restore peace and order.
As the 2026 election approaches, the Balaalo issue is quickly becoming a political flashpoint in Northern Uganda, one that may determine not just the region’s future, but the electoral fate of the ruling party itself.
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