President Yoweri Museveni has named Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, three Ministers, and other senior government officials among a team to implement his directive to evict Balalo cattle keepers from Acholi and Lango sub-regions.
The three Ministers are Gen. David Muhoozi, the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Col. Charles Okello Macodwogo, the State Minister for Gender, Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama, and the State Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
Early this month, President Museveni asked the cattle keepers, majority of whom from the western region to leave northern Uganda.
The President accused the herders of being a source of insecurity and destroying foods crops.
According to the president, only cattle keepers who have acquired land legally and fenced off grazing grounds will be spared.
There are fears in security circles that the cattle keepers could be intelligence officers from foreign countries who are posing as herders.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Robinah Nabajjanja who was accompanied by three junior Ministers told residents of Patwol village, Palaro Sub County in Gulu district that the cattle keepers will have to leave the region in six weeks’ time.
Ms Nabajjanja said the cattle keepers will have to leave Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions. She also revealed that government will investigate how some of the Balalos acquired land.
Simon Peter Wokorach, the Aswa County Member of Parliament in Gulu District says the presence of the cattle keepers in the Acholi sub-region is a source of insecurity.
He also said the cattle have destroyed large acres of food crops, posing the risk of famine in a region that is already facing food insecurity due to poor weather.
