Uganda: Buliisa Conflict - Who are These Balaalo?
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The Monitor (Kampala)
OPINION
15 October 2006
Posted to the web 23 July 2007
Samuel Baguma
Kampala
The herdsmen referred to as a Balaalo are people who wonder from place to place
in search of grass and water for their animals. They usually do not have
permanent homes. One wonders why, today, they claim to have bought and owned
land in Buliisa District.
The land in Bunyoro is owned customarily, which means that land belongs to
family and clan members; no individual or LC team can ever be allowed to sell
any such piece of land to an individual or group of persons without the consent
of concerned family and clan members.
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The herdsmen who believe that they own land in this now volatile area
should think twice before they spend more money in courts of law trying to seek
justice. There are rumours that these so-called balaalo do not actually have
strategic interest in this land; it is big shots in government who have
pecuniary motives.
The balaalo have got guns, mobile phones and can directly ring the big shots in
government and update them on what is going on. Bunyoro and her people have
gone through thick and thin over the past century -- with their land being
grabbed by British imperialists, with the help of Baganda leaders and fighters.
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All governments, since that time, have never solved the
Bunyoro land issue. For example, about 65 percent of the land in Kibale
District is still in the hands of absentee Baganda landlords! And 30 per cent
of the remaining land is now under the control of Bakiga who came there with
the help of some politicians.
The rest is land that belongs to bona fide people. In this regard, all those
people who are flocking Bunyoro to grab land in the name of development and
grazing cattle should stop doing so. They are being conned of their money --
because they will be forced to leave and go elsewhere. Is it because of the oil
discovery and other precious minerals in that area is now rife with these
so-called balaalo?
Why do they move with guns? Do they know that it is illegal for a civilian to
own a gun? Are they being aided and encouraged by some people in government?
Lastly, I advise all the Local Council chairmen in all districts in Uganda not
to mislead people by illegally selling them land.
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