By Emmanuel Olinga
KATAKWI
Katakwi District Security Committee has resolved to evict migrant herdsmen popularly known as Balaalo from the district following residents’ outcry over crop destruction by their cattle.
The resolution was made on Saturday, 20th September, 2025 in a well-attended meeting including the Katakwi District Security Committee, Anti Stock Theft Unit Teso sector commander, Local Leaders, and the community of Ongogonja and Okulonyo, along with Balalo.
The residents unanimously agreed to evict Balalo following the security meeting in response to Balalo’s undisciplined behavior and failure to coexist with the community.
Despite President Executive Order Number Two banning Balalo in the subregions of Acholi, Lango, and Teso, animals belonging to the Balaalo are trampling on farmer crops in Katakwi and Kapelebyong districts.
With most recent outcry in Katakwi where rice Plantations, cassava, potatoes, sorghum, millet and sim Sim, devastation of pasture in Ongogonja and Okulonyo sub counties, concerns on food insecurity have been raised due to crop loss caused by Balalo cattle, whose cattle outnumber grazing lands, causing cattle to migrate to farmers’ garden crops in search of pasture.
According to a report from local authorities in the two sub counties, approximately 1,000 cattle and 19 cattle kraals are housed in the two sub counties, outnumbering grazing areas. As a result, cattle trespass on crop gardens, destroying them and causing soil infertility as cattle compact soil. They also cause soil erosion as top soil is washed away.
According to H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Musevini’s executive order number two on Balalo eviction in parts of the north and northeast, any Balalo who has purchased land in any region for cattle must fence it and provide water for the livestock.
Obwaletun Eugenio, LC3 Ongongonja subcounty, and Amaitum Peter, LC3 Okulonyo, corroborated the increased number of Balalo, with over 1,000 cattle outnumbering grazing spaces.
Okwi Lawrence, an elder of Ongongonja, claims crop plots have been devastated and is upset with a few people who link the Balalo to the area.
He emphasized the necessity to evacuate the Balalo herdsmen that entered the area a year ago, as they have also failed to coexist with the community because crops damaged are unfairly rewarded.
According to Peter Ocode, parish councilor for Akomotukoi in Ongongonja Sub County, over 1,000 cattle have been moved to the sub county and have decimated many gardens.
According to Ocode, the community is concerned since some Balalo are claimed to be soldiers and may own firearms. He also indicated that the Balalo issue has produced problems for Katakwi leadership, with some leaders being cautioned and detained since Balalo appear to be supported by certain elements.
Johnson Besisira, a Balaalo representative who has stayed for five years, pleaded with the district authorities for forgiveness, urging them to give them another chance to stay in the district because the bible says to love one another. He urged authoroities to arrest those found unruly.
Geoffrey Omolo, LCV Katakwi District, stated that the Balalo matter has been long overdue and that as leaders, they will not tolerate seeing residents face the consequences but ready to execute Presidential Eviction Order Number Two.
Stephen Ilemukorit Okure, RDC Katakwi District, emphasized the need of enforcing the Balalo eviction order, stating that President Museveni is unhappy with RDCs and security over Balalo who illegally invade Teso subregion territory, destroying garden produce without following required processes.
Mr. Ilemukorit stated that after conducting his monitoring, he noticed that not only crops had been destroyed, but also government projects such as roads under construction had been vandalized because of the large number of animals present.
Bosco Okiror, Member of Parliament for Usuk County, assured the people of Katakwi that during the presentation of the livestock rehabilitation program, the committee raised the Balalo issue in Teso, and the President tasked the District Security Committee to carry out the executive order to evict the Balalo.
