MP cites double standards in eviction of cattle keepers
Evicted. Some of the balaalo who face eviction graze their cattle in Obongi County in Moyo District. PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM OKELLO
What you need to know:
- Directive. President Museveni ordered that the balaalo return to their home land by March 15.
West Nile.
The Obongi County Member of Parliament, Mr Kaps Hassan Fungaroo, has cited double standards in the impending eviction of the nomadic pastoralists commonly known as balaalo.
Last month, President Museveni issued a directive to all the Resident District Commissioners in the sub-region to oversee the eviction of balaalo in the area.
Speaking to Daily Monitor yesterday, Mr Fungaroo said the Arua Resident District Commissioner, Mr Peter Debele, together with other leaders, have allegedly been finding of ways letting the cattle keepers stay despite the president’s directive to evict them by mid next month.
“Some of our leaders are trying to protect the cattle keepers at the expense of our own people. The presidential directive should be implemented without any double standards ,” Mr Fungaroo said.
Background
He made the remarks following reports that some cattle keepers were conniving with locals in Arua, Yumbe and Moyo districts by offering to work as casual labourers in order to prolong their stay.
It is reported that in some parts of Yumbe and Moyo, the balaalo bribing residents with milk.
But Mr Dedebele refuted the allegations as baseless saying all leaders and security organs in the area received the directive and they are enforcing it. “We are soon going to the field to check on the compliance to this directive. Balaalo who have opted to stay are doing so at their own risk,” Mr Debele said.
He added: “We have asked police and Gombolola Internal Security Officers to inspect the affected areas and give us a report. Reports indicate some balaalo in Rhino Camp have began leaving ahead of the March 15 deadline.”
Last week, the Member of Parliament for Lower Madi, Mr Ismail Ogama, decried the menace and destruction of crops caused by the cattle belonging to the nomads.
Mr Ogama noted that their efforts to evict the balaalo were being frustrated by some locals who rent their land to the cattle keepers.
The President while on a country tour to rally people to support the Land Amendment Bill in West Nile pledged to direct the army to peacefully evict the balaalo.
