Frustration deepens in Acholi as Balaalo eviction hangs

Mounting frustration grips communities across the Acholi sub-region as government eviction operations against the nomadic Balaalo herders appear to focus solely on removing livestock.

This has sparked allegations of selective enforcement and political maneuvering ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Despite a presidential directive and several public promises, leaders and locals alike express dismay that the eviction effort has spared the herders themselves while targeting only their cattle.

The silence from President Yoweri Museveni and the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, regarding the fate of over 700 Balaalo headmen remains a source of deep concern.

Executive Order No. 3, issued on May 19, 2023, by President Museveni, mandated the eviction of nomadic herders whose activities were linked to environmental degradation, land conflict, and tensions with host communities.

The directive cited illegal cattle grazing, destruction of crops, and disregard for local customs as major concerns, especially in Northern Uganda.

The order, issued under Article 99(2) of the 1995 Constitution also targeted the illegal charcoal trade and cattle rustling. However, nearly two years on, its implementation appears stalled, with critics saying enforcement is both selective and weak.

State Minister for Northern Uganda, Dr. Kenneth Omona, issued a two-week ultimatum in May 2025 for Balaalo to vacate, but no significant action followed. Local leaders now accuse the government of playing politics with their livelihoods.

On June 16, 2025, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba visited the Acholi sub-region, accompanied by 4th Division Commander Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori and 5th Division Commander Maj. Gen. Keith Katungi.

The visit included a ceremonial stop at the Acholi cultural institution’s palace in Acol-Pii, Pader district, a gesture seen as symbolic, but not enough to calm rising tempers.

Speaking after the visit, Okello Okuna, spokesperson and minister for information and communication in the Acholi cultural institution, said the institution still lacked verified data on the number of Balaalo and their cattle in the region.

“We are planning to conduct a thorough registry of both the Balaalo and their livestock. It is shocking that to date, even after a presidential order, we are still operating in data darkness,” said Okuna

Okuna disclosed that during the closed-door meeting with the Paramount Chief of Acholi, Gen. Muhoozi stated that the eviction would only target the cattle and not the Balaalo themselves, citing logistical and legal constraints.

“The CDF was clear that the exercise would proceed peacefully or by force and would focus on moving the cattle out of Acholi. Security will also be deployed to ensure calm during the process,” Okuna revealed.

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Gilbert Olanya, Member of Parliament for Kilak South, Amuru district, has been one of the most vocal critics of the government’s sluggish response.

During a press conference at the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC), he warned that continued delays would cost the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) political capital in the upcoming 2026 elections.

“The presence of the CDF gave us hope that we would see actual movement, trucks ferrying cattle out of Acholi land. But weeks have passed since the last ultimatum, and nothing has changed. This is a betrayal,” Olanya said.

He estimated that over 92,000 heads of cattle owned by Balaalo are still grazing illegally in Acholi, alongside 10,000 heads of local creole cattle. Olanya accused some Acholi leaders of accepting bribes to protect the Balaalo, thereby undermining the interests of their own people.

“Not all of us are for sale. We shall not allow our ancestral land to be traded away for money. If the eviction does not start this week, let the NRM forget votes from the Acholi sub-region,” he declared.

Former Leader of Opposition and interim chairperson of the Acholi Parliamentary Group, Betty Aol Ocan, also addressed the press at NUMEC, sounding the alarm on the continued desecration of ancestral lands.

“Balaalo are not just trespassers; they are desecrating sacred grounds, our cultural, spiritual, and historical heritage,” said Aol.

The Gulu City Woman MP continued: “Our villages are like our bedrooms. No one walks into your bedroom uninvited and begins to take control.”

She refuted claims that the push for eviction is tribal or discriminatory.

“This is not about tribes, it’s about justice, land rights, and survival. Every community has a right to protect what is theirs” she noted.

Aol emphasized the need for sustainable enforcement and a fair, well-documented process that does not discriminate or scapegoat.

“We want a peaceful Acholi where land, dignity, and cultural heritage are respected”, she added.

As the two-week deadline given by Gen. Muhoozi ticks down, all eyes are on the government. Will they act decisively, or will silence continue to erode public confidence?