A mini-survey to establish the number of nomadic pastoralists in Acholi followed Executive Order Number 3 of 2023 has so far registered 217 non-compliant pastoralists in Acholi Sub-region.

The figure was revealed by Brig. Gen Michael Kabango, the Commander of the 4th Division in Gulu during a meeting between the members of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee formed to investigate the pastoralists and various leaders in the greater northern Uganda, ahead of the implementation of Executive Order Number.

While issuing the executive order, Museveni described the nomadic pastoralists as indiscipline cattle keepers from Ankole-Mpororo, ancient Bunyoro, parts of Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda who came to Acholi, Teso, and Karamoja illegally or manipulatively, without the permission of the Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Agriculture, and should therefore be evicted.

Besides, the pastoralists are accused of raising livestock in areas without fences and water sources, making their animals trample on crops, hence causing food insecurity.  According to Kabango, Amuru district has 86 non-complaint pastoralists, which is the highest in the Acholi sub-region, followed by Pader, 45, Gulu 44, Nwoya 37, and Lamwo with 5 non-complaint pastoralists, who are collectively rearing 2,700 cattle.

Kabango says eviction and verification of the non-compliant pastoralists will start based on the availability of logistics and verification of the remaining pastoralists.  Grace Freedom Kwiyocwiny, the State Minister for Northern Uganda says an activity to register all the pastoralists in northern Uganda will start this week.

Kwoyocwiny says the registration and verification of all the migrant cattle keepers in northern Uganda will include capturing their location, families, and the number of cattle they have before a final decision is made on who should be evicted.  Preliminary figures quoted by the Kwiyocwiny in August revealed that there are approximately 5,300 cattle keepers operating on at least 898 cattle farms in northern Uganda, with each farm holding between 100-800 herds of cattle.

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