The ongoing land struggle of Balaalo (pastoralists) has taken a new twist, this time in the fertile pastures of a forest reserve in Kayunga district.
The Butambala County Member of Parliament (MP), Muwanga Kivumbi, who is also the Head of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus said, “Balaalo especially they target districts of Kayunga, Ntenjeru and the greater cattle corridor. We are following this development consciously, deliberately and we will even undertake a tour of the suspected route of the cattle exodus and try to establish the truth of that matter,”
“Those who live as nomads need to understand that this is a primitive behaviour that has its place in the past and that their cattle don’t own all the grass on this land. They will walk up to Alaska in search of green pasture, so we ask them to return home,” Muwanga said.
Muwanga made the remarks during a press briefing at parliament where he noted that although the Central region made it simple for everyone to settle, the region is currently facing enormous pressures on its land.
This according to him is characterized by a dense population, huge land conflicts and evictions, and such challenges can’t be further compounded by welcoming the “balaalo”
Facing eviction, they sought refuge in Buganda, raising anxieties among local communities about competition for land and resources.
The Balaalo claim that they’ve grazed their cattle in the reserve for over 30 years, paying grazing licenses to the National Forestry Authority (NFA). However, their presence sparked controversy, with the NFA moving to evict them which further fueled the dispute.
This latest development has reignited tensions between the Balaalo and some Baganda leaders, with Members of Parliament from the Buganda region embarking on a regional tour to address concerns over possible land acquisition.
This initiative aims to engage communities, understand their concerns, and hopefully find common ground with the Balaalo.
Exploring the reasons behind their eviction from the north and examining potential government support for their resettlement are crucial aspects of finding a sustainable solution.
The Balaalo’s land struggle highlights the complex challenges of land ownership, resource allocation, and cultural clashes in Uganda.
