Hoima clashes: Cultivators, pastoralists talk

Ms Joyce Gagaone, a pastoralist, retrieves some valuables from her hut that was burnt during the clashes in Lenju village Hoima District last month.
Photo by Francis Mugerwa

What you need to know:

Officials have demarcated land strictly for grazing as well as for cultivation

Hoima.
The nomadic cattle keepers and Alur cultivators who last month were involved in violent clashes in Hoima District have started peace talks to settle their dispute.

The clashes left more than 20 houses burnt and four cows killed, which prompted police deployment to prevent escalation of the violence in Lenju village, Kigorobya Sub-county. The dialogue was presided over by security officials led by the Resident District Commissioner, Mr Godfrey Nyakahuma, and each of the ethnic community was represented by three people.

The Kigorobya Sub-county chairman, Mr Modest Mugisa, and the sub-county district councillor, Mr Mugenyi Mulindambura, were co-opted as members. “We have asked the cultivators who strayed into grazing land to harvest their crops and desist from planting more crops in the area,” said Mr Mulindambura.

He said pastoralists who have been grazing in land zoned for cultivation have also been told to stop, adding that the taskforce will demarcate the land for grazing.

The Midwestern Regional Police Commander, Mr Charles Ssebambulidde, said the warring communities have been told to cease hostilities, but added that police would maintain presence in the area to prevent fresh clashes.

He said each community has been directed to register all its members to enable security detect any new migrants to the area.