KAMPALA – A group of over 300 Cattle Keepers commonly known as the Balalo from Northern, Eastern and North Western part of Uganda have petitioned High court seeking for orders halting their eviction from Northern Uganda as per President Yoweri Kaguta’s directive.
According to the Application , MSC cause 0164 of 2025 filed before the High Court, the petitioners through the lawyers of Mwesigwa Rukutana and Company Advocates , Brian Rubaihayo, and Edgar Ayebazibwe, the Balalo contend that on 17th June 2025, they woke up to Radio and Television broadcasts with Major General Felix Busizoori, 4th Infantry Division Commander, Commissioner of Police -Ocaya Philip and other Government officers directing them to vacate their lands and remove their livestock from Northern Uganda by 25th June 2025, or face forceful eviction.
“The above Order was made without any consultations and without giving the Applicants an opportunity to explain how they acquired their respective interests in land; whether or not they have complied with the conditions set in the previous Executive Order Number 3 of 2023 and without an opportunity to demonstrate that some of the Applicants had acquired Certificates of Compliance issued by all relevant authorities and signed by the Minister.” Reads part of the court documents
That, the Applicants are aggrieved by the state directives which they blame for infringement or threaten to infringe on their fundamental and other human rights and freedoms thus violating several of their rights provided under the Constitution like right to a fair hearing, the right to property, and the freedom to move and settle wherever they choose.
“The order for the removal of our animals, failure of which are to be forcefully removed by the Police and/ or Armed Forces, would have the effect of having all the Applicants’ animals killed by starvation, disease or exhaustion. The Applicants have no alternative lands to transfer the animals to, neither would they be able to dispose off them in the limited time given in the order.”
They also pointed out that, majority of them are cattle keepers by birth and cattle are imbedded in their culture, social and economic existence.
“Most of the Applicants who desired to expand into wider or commercial livestock farming sold the lands in the areas of their origin and bought land in Northern Uganda where they are now engaged in medium to large scale modern livestock farming.”
They have asked Court to issue an injunction directing authorities to stop evicting them from the land before a thorough verification process is conducted.
Court is expected any time to issue out summons to the Attorney General (respondent) file his submissions in the matter.
