By Aggrey Baba
Former EALA MP and DP vice president Mukasa Mbidde has attributed the Balaalo crisis in Northern Uganda to decades of poor leadership and failure to reform Uganda’s land governance system under the NRM and Museveni’s rule.
Speaking during the Capital Gang show this Saturday morning, Mbidde said the conflict over land in the north is not new and should not be treated as a sudden development.
He blamed the current eviction tensions on state inaction over many years, arguing that if land issues had been properly addressed earlier, there would be no need for abrupt directives or confrontational policies.
Mbidde questioned the rationale for celebrating the President’s intervention at this stage, noting that the NRM Chairman has been in power for over 40 years and bears direct responsibility for the unresolved land dilemmas.
He emphasized that land is an inelastic resource (unlike money or commodities) and that failure to manage it amidst a growing population would only breed more disputes.
He further distinguished between land ownership and land use, explaining that many of the Balaalo may indeed have legal documentation that gives them the right to stay. In his view, the real problem lies in the Museveni’s inconsistent enforcement of land laws, leading to confusion about who is allowed where and under what conditions.
Abdu Katuntu reiterated that some of the herders had acquired land through legal means, and warned that forced evictions without due process would trigger lawsuits that Uganda may not be prepared to handle.
Simon Rubangakene explained that in 2023, both the Balaalo and Northern leaders were involved in discussions with the President. Some stakeholders accused the cattle keepers of land grabbing, while others defended them, claiming the land was acquired through formal agreements.
Rubangakene said the results of those engagements remain unclear, yet they appear to have informed the recent Presidential directive.
Joseph Ochieno called for a broader view of the issue, reminding listeners that displacement has not been unique to the north. He said many communities in Luwero were also uprooted in the past, and that some of the Balaalo were themselves victims of regional displacement, with historical links to support for the Museveni/NRA during the liberation struggle.
Angelo Izama cautioned that the land debate is being distorted by political narratives, arguing that northern Uganda was once home to successful ranching and livestock enterprises, and that the present land tensions are largely a result of policy failure and elite mismanagement rather than a direct clash between locals and the Balaalo. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
