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In 2010, more than 400 pastoralists were reportedly evicted by Uganda from land where oil had been found, after the government accused them of illegal occupation. The group then petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the eviction, which the government had been struggling to go through with for the past three years. The case was dismissed by the court.1
It’s early Sunday morning on December 12 in Buliisa District. A surprise operation by the Police and UPDF dabbed ‘Justice’, and commanded by the Coordinator of Intelligence Agencies, Gen. David Tinyefuza, has been launched. The operation is aimed to relocate pastoralists from Buliisa District. But some of the pastoralists claim they have lived in the area for years and according to them, operation ‘Justice’ comes as a big shock.
Confronted by the security forces most of who were armed with guns and batons, some of the pastoralists appeared frightened. But according to Gen. Tinyefunza, the operation was code-named ‘Justice’ because it is meant to “usher in justice for the indigenous Bagungu” whom he said had been treated unfairly by the pastoralists who invaded the area.
Stranded familiesEntering Buliisa from the direction of Hoima, we encountered many stranded families whose cattle were herded to Bugoigo central area awaiting relocation to an unknown destination. However, sources familiar with the operation but who declined to be named because they are not authorised to talk to the media said the herdsmen as well as their cattle were being relocated to Kyakwanzi District.
There was confusion amongst the herdsmen who didn’t have prior knowledge of where they were being relocated. Many of the pastoralists said they migrated from Kyakwanzi District to Buliisa District several years back. However, that claim is being challenged by both the indigenous people and government officials.
Gen. Tinyefuza said whereas these pastoralists have always been on the move in search of good pasture in western Uganda partly due to increased population and the introduction of modern agricultural practices, their decision to settle in Buliisa District, an area where land is owned communally, was not proper. He said this has led to bloody conflicts between pastoralists and the indigenous Bagungu, especially in the areas around Lake Albert in 2003. Though the cattle-keepers claim to have bought land from landlords, the Bagungu allege that the pastoralists simply grabbed their land yet they have owned their land is communally owned.
Sources:
1. https://ejatlas.org/conflict/land-acquisition-conflict-and-waste-dumping-in-buliisa-district
2. https://mobile.monitor.co.ug/magazines/691254-1074644-format-xhtml-uyheul/index.html | 
