Govt claims major gains in eviction of migrant pastoralists from northern Uganda

Moroto, Uganda | URN | The government says it has made significant progress in evicting migrant cattle keepers from Northern Uganda, with more than 60,000 cattle reportedly removed from the region amid intensified security operations.

State Minister for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation, Kenneth Omona, said the eviction exercise has so far achieved an estimated 85 per cent success rate following the implementation of an Executive Order issued by President Yoweri Museveni in June last year.

Speaking during a community baraza held at Labala Primary School in Pabbo Sub-County, Amuru District, on Thursday, Omona said the ongoing joint operations by the Uganda Police Force and the UPDF have compelled many migrant cattle keepers to return to their areas of origin.

According to the minister, Northern Uganda had an estimated 80,000 cattle belonging to migrant herders, some reportedly originating from as far as the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

“We can see that our performance is above 85 per cent since we started this operation last year. We hope the exercise will conclude successfully to ensure peace, stability, and create an environment for production and growth,” Omona said.

However, he accused some residents, particularly in Amuru District, of colluding with migrant cattle keepers by falsely claiming ownership of cattle targeted in the eviction exercise.

Despite the reported progress, residents at the baraza raised fresh complaints of land grabbing and illegal displacement allegedly linked to some influential migrant cattle keepers in the district.

One of the cases discussed involved businessman James Tumwine, who is accused of illegally occupying up to 750 acres of land in Kalacut Village, Labala Parish, and displacing nearly 50 households.

Area leaders told the meeting that Tumwine entered into a land sale agreement in 2022 to acquire 301 acres of land, but allegedly failed to complete payment while continuing to use the land for grazing cattle. Residents further alleged that he later expanded his occupation to cover approximately 750 acres.

Simon Oyet Awira, the LC I Chairperson of Kalacut Village, said the disputed land transaction dates back to July 10, 2022, when Tumwine allegedly signed a sale agreement with the family members of Albertino Ongom Ocelo.

Oyet, who was among the signatories to the agreement, said Tumwine initially paid 10 million Shillings out of the agreed purchase price of 96 million Shillings. Under the agreement, Tumwine was expected to pay a second instalment of 40 million Shillings in September 2022 and clear the remaining balance of 46 million Shillings by January 2023.

However, Oyet alleged that Tumwine never completed the payments despite continuing to use the land for grazing hundreds of cattle. He further claimed that investigations indicate that Tumwine later expanded his occupation to cover the entire 750 acres and forcefully displaced an estimated 50 households from the land.

Retired Captain Francis Ocitti, one of the affected residents, accused some UPDF officers attached to the 501 Zoka Brigade of protecting the alleged illegal occupation of the land by the migrant cattle keeper. Ocitti called for urgent government intervention to resolve the conflict and facilitate the safe return of displaced residents to their ancestral land.

Outgoing Pabbo Sub-county LC III Chairperson John Bosco Labalpiny also accused police investigators of frustrating efforts to investigate the disputed land acquisition.

In response, Omona said the matter would be referred to security authorities, including the leadership of the Fourth Infantry Division and regional police commanders, for further investigations and appropriate action.

He warned against the unlawful eviction of residents, saying the NRM government’s vision is to promote unity, peaceful co-existence, and socio-economic development.

Amuru Resident District Commissioner Geoffrey Osborn Oceng said security personnel had already removed Tumwine’s cattle from the contested land to allow investigations to proceed. However, Tumwine denied the allegations, insisting that he legally acquired the land and possesses valid documentation.

“What they told you is 99 per cent false and one per cent truth. When I bought the land, I fenced it, and only this year was I evicted because of the presidential directive,” Tumwine said. Tumwine declined to comment further on the dispute, saying the matter is currently before the High Court in Arua City.