By The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) 4 Infantry Division Commander, Maj Gen Felix Busizoori, has embarked on a monitoring tour across Northern Uganda to assess the progress of the ongoing eviction of illegal pastoralists, known as the Balaalo, in line with Presidential Executive Orders No. 2 and 3 of 2025.
Speaking during a field visit to Got Apwoyo Nagric Ranch in Nwoya District, Maj Gen Busizoori reported notable strides in the operation, with 1,649 head of cattle already exiting the region via Karuma Bridge. He said another 6,000 cattle are expected to leave within the week.
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“This is a significant sign that the public sensitisation efforts carried out over the past month are yielding results,” Busizoori said. “We are now entering a critical phase of monitoring compliance and ensuring an orderly relocation of herders.”
The general noted that some individuals had begun misusing the system, colluding with locals to falsely register Balaalo cattle under Acholi ownership. He issued a stern warning that such acts would result in criminal prosecution, underlining the government’s commitment to enforcing the law.
Busizoori’s tour comes as part of a broader effort by the UPDF and local authorities to track implementation, identify logistical gaps, and maintain peaceful enforcement of the directives, which aim to protect communal land and preserve environmental resources across the north.
At Got Apwoyo, nearly 700 head of cattle belonging to five individuals had already been removed, while over 1,600 were accounted for at Aswa Ranch and other holding centres. The UPDF commander praised the discipline of security forces and cooperation of compliant herders but raised concerns about limited transport.
“There is an urgent need for additional transport to facilitate smooth evacuation. The herders are willing, but logistical bottlenecks slow the process,” he said.
Busizoori assured communities that movement permits and veterinary support, including free vaccinations, are being provided at designated centres through district veterinary officers.
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He further called on political leaders to support the operation by refraining from interfering in its execution, stressing its importance to national unity and stability.
The enforcement of Executive Orders 2 and 3 builds on earlier efforts in 2023, when President Yoweri Museveni first directed the eviction of Balaalo herders and banned commercial charcoal burning measures that remain widely supported by local communities affected by environmental degradation and land conflicts.
As the monitoring tour continues, Busizoori said his focus remains on ensuring a lawful, transparent, and humane process that safeguards both the rights of local residents and the integrity of Uganda’s environmental and land use policies.
