Ezrah Kashumbusha.
KAMPALA, February 12, 2024 | The High Court in Gulu has marked February 19th, 2024, as the day for the hearing of a case challenging Executive Order No. 3 of 2023, which concerns the residency rights of the Balalo community across Uganda.
The lawsuit, filed by Otee Leonard against the Attorney General of Uganda, seeks to contest the expulsion of Balalo from Northern Uganda and restrictions on their movement and settlement within the country.
Central to the case is the argument that Balalo are citizens of Uganda and, therefore, possess the inherent right to reside in any part of the country without discrimination. The plaintiff urges the court to intervene and prohibit the state from expelling Balalo from Northern Uganda.
President Yoweri Museveni issued Executive Order No. 3 of 2023 on May 19th, 2023, primarily aimed at addressing concerns of cattle keeping practices in Northern Uganda. The order cited issues of food insecurity arising from pastoralists allowing their animals to graze in people’s gardens and environmental degradation caused by charcoal trading.
Despite the order, a request for its execution was postponed following a plea from General Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, who highlighted the complexities involved and requested alternative solutions.
However, implementation of the order saw over 217 pastoralists in the Acholi Sub-Region leaving due to non-compliance, reflecting the challenges in reconciling environmental conservation efforts with the livelihoods of pastoralist communities.
As the nation awaits the court’s deliberation, the outcome of this case is anticipated to have far-reaching implications for the Balalo community and broader discussions surrounding land rights and environmental conservation in Uganda.
