By Ivan Tolit
The government through the Office of the prime minister has suspended with immediate effect the eviction of balaalo pastoralists and their cattle over the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the country.
In a letter dated March 22, 2024 written by the outgoing State Minister for Northern Uganda Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, the exercise is suspended until June, 2024 to enable the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries manage the foot and mouth disease.
Kwiyucwiny, said during this period of suspension, government will be mobilizing resources in terms of finances to enable the district security committees continue with the exercise, once cleared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
Oceng Geoffrey Orsbon, the Lamwo Resident district Commissioner who also the Whip of the RDCs in Acholi sub region has confirmed the development.
So far only 5,000 herds of cattle belonging to Balaalo out of the over 80 ,000 cattle have been impounded from Acholi Sub-region since the start of the implementation of the Presidential Order Number 3 in November last year.
The President in his executive order directed that all Balaalo in Northern Uganda, who have not fenced off their land and provided all the necessary things for running a cattle farm, should be evicted with immediate effect, starting from November 24, 2023.