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The President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Patrick Oboi Amuriat, has demanded government intervention in response to the increasing presence of herdsmen in various parts of Uganda.
Addressing a press conference at the FDC office in Soroti City, Amuriat emphasized the urgent need for government action to address the invasion of herdsmen, particularly in the Teso sub-region.
Expressing frustration with the government’s apparent inaction, Amuriat warned that if necessary measures are not taken promptly, the FDC will mobilize communities to take action against the encroaching herdsmen.
Amuriat’s concerns echo those raised by local leaders in Teso, including Serere LCV Chairperson Stephen Ochola, who have expressed alarm over the influx of herdsmen into wetland areas crucial for the livelihoods of communities in the region.
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Reports indicate that herdsmen have recently migrated to various wetlands in the Teso sub-region, such as Kapujan wetland in Katakwi district, and have begun occupying grazing lands in Agu and Abuket wetlands, affecting multiple districts including Ngora, Serere, Soroti, and Pallisa.
The situation has escalated, with over 2,000 cattle crossing into Ngora district and another group of herdsmen settling in Serere district with more than 600 cattle, raising significant security concerns.
Gweri County MP Tom Julius Ekudo has emphasized the urgency of addressing the herdsmen invasion, stating that it poses a serious security threat not only to Teso but also to other regions across the country.
In response to the crisis, local leaders convened a meeting with herdsmen in Abuket wetland, where they reached resolutions aimed at controlling further encroachment. The agreements include prohibiting new herdsmen from entering the area and mandating existing herdsmen to register with authorities and comply with vaccination guidelines to combat the spread of foot and mouth disease.
The influx of mobile herdsmen is not unique to Teso but has also become a pressing issue in other regions such as Acholi, Lango, and West Nile.
This situation mirrors past incidents, including President Yoweri Museveni’s issuance of an Executive Order last year to evict defiant herdsmen from the Acholi sub-region in response to similar concerns raised by local leadership.
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