Africa-Press – Uganda. Authorities in Obongi District have finalized plans to evict at least 20 Balaalo herders who collectively own more than 1,000 head of cattle, following President Museveni’s Executive Order No. 2 of 2025 that bans illegal free-range grazing across Northern, Eastern, and North-Western Uganda.
According to Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Obongi, the eviction will begin on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
“All Balaalo herders in Obongi District have been fully sensitized about the eviction,” Hashaka said.
“We have engaged them on multiple occasions to ensure they understand the Executive Order and the reasons behind it.”
Issued on June 1, 2025, the presidential directive targets unregulated grazing practices blamed for widespread crop destruction, blocked water sources, land disputes, and the spread of livestock diseases.
RDC Hashaka assured the public that all security agencies and relevant stakeholders are prepared to carry out the operation peacefully and effectively.
“We are working closely with the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and the District Security Committee to ensure a peaceful and coordinated eviction,” he said.
The ongoing nationwide enforcement campaign—dubbed Operation Harmony—has already seen the relocation of more than 3,100 cattle from the Acholi sub-region and parts of West Nile as of late June.
Hashaka emphasized that the Obongi eviction exercise would be conducted lawfully, with a focus on maintaining peace and safeguarding community livelihoods.
“We want to avoid unnecessary confrontations. This is a lawful government operation, and we expect full cooperation from the affected herders,” he added.
With the July 1 deadline approaching, Obongi now joins other northern districts implementing one of the government’s most decisive actions in recent years to regulate land use and livestock management.
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