By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Democratic Party acting spokesperson, Ismail Kiirya has accused president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of deliberately mishandling of Balalo eviction order from Acholi land.
Kiirya made the remarks on Tuesday (October 24) while addressing journalists during their weekly media briefing at City House Kampala.
He observed that the president has conflicts of interest in forceful occupation of herdsmen (Balalo) on Acholi land wondering reasons he is not executing total eviction orders.
The accusations follow extension of the eviction order to 20 days by the president.
It should be recalled that the eviction of Balalo was supposed to take effect on October 20, but Museveni using his powers under executive order 3, extended implementation of this eviction until November 15.
Parrots Media learned that the president recently met with 39 leaders from Acholi sub-region led by Chief Justice Owinyi-Dollo, Northern Uganda state minister, Freedom Grace Kwiyucwiny, Foreign Affairs minister Henry Okello Oryem, Disaster and preparedness minister Hillary Onek, Acholi MPs; Anthony Akol and Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, LC5 Chairpersons for Lamwo, Amur and Nwoya districts, traditional chiefs and LC3 chairpersons of the area to discuss the matter. The meeting however, ended fruitlessly as the legislators and local leaders insisted on the total eviction order.
The Kilak county North MP, Anthony Akol said they boldly told Museveni to evict the herdsmen which he promised would do but asked to first meet with another pro- Balalo group led by Jack Pen Mogi who says that the herdsmen are good and have fostered economic growth in the region.
The decision to extend the eviction order has not only left the majority of population in Acholi sub-region irritated but also the UYD President and Acting DP spokesperson, Kiirya. He anticipates bloodshed and tribal conflicts likelihoods due to the sluggish handling of this matter.
“Let Government buy for them land since it has interest in them or lead them to go back where they came from. And we are sure government knows where these people came from,” Kiirya said
It’s presumed that Balalo came in Northern Uganda in 2017 from Rwanda and Burundi, and illegally occupied land in Agago, Pader, Lamwo and Gulu district particularly Palar sub county, in Acholi sub-region.
When the Acholi people attempted to send them away, they were protected by the president under the executive order number 3.
This according to DP shows personal interests of the president in Acholi land. They demanded that if he (Museveni) is so much interested in the herdsmen, he should consider looking into concerns raised by the people of Acholi.
“The people of the Acholi nolonger need your meetings on these herdsmen but they need them to vacate their land immediately. They have caused insecurity, many people are using them to manipulate the locals to get cheap land in Acholi,” said Ag DP spokesperson
