UGANDA: Bunyoro is paying price of not being traditional cattle keepers

BUNYORO - PAYING THE PRICE OF NOT BEING TRADITIONAL CATTLE KEEPERS.

Since Museveni assumed office 32 years ago, a geographical region referred to as the Cattle Corridor has continued to expand to include other regions that were not traditionally part of the original region. The traditional semi-arid cattle corridor stretches from North western Tanzania and parts of Eastern Rwanda, through some parts of Ankole, Buganda, Teso, Lango, to Karamoja in the North Eastern region. Save for Lango, Teso and Karamoja, the traditional cattle keepers in the cattle corridor areas in Buganda and Ankole are predominantly those refered to as the Balaro.

The Museveni regime has facilitated the Balalo to gain economic and military strength that has enabled them to look for more pasture outside their traditional cattle corridor areas in Ankole and Buganda. They have developed a feeling that they have the monopoly of cattle keeping. Bunyoro has not been spared and it has witnessed the worst land grabbing by the economically and militarily powerful Balalo. When Museveni took over power in 1986, Teso and Lango were depleted of cattle stocks. The vigorous attempts by Balaro to make incursions into Teso, Lango, Acholiland and West Nile has been politically resisted. For this action both West Nile and Acholiland are paying the price as armed cattle rustlers from South Sudan are depleting their stocks at a very fast rate unhindered. This implies that the pressure has to revert back to South of the Karuma Bridge. However the bad news is that the Banyoro are also adopting cattle keeping implying they will not part with their land.

To better understand the narrative, just have a look at this story that was run by businesfocus.co.ug on 11th July 2018;

TENSION AS THUGS STEAL OVER 200 COWS IN HOIMA

By Peter Abaanabasazi
Hoima

Unanswered questions are lingering in minds of livestock farmers in Hoima district about who is behind the escalating cases of cattle theft in the area. According to the farmers, robberies of livestock especially cows, goats and sheep which started with negligible cases have turned into serious problems and a security concern.

Over 200 cows are said to have been stolen from different farmers since December 2017 in Sub-Counties of Buseruka, Kyangwali, Bugambe and Hoima Municipality. Some farmers claim that the robbers are armed, creating more tension among cattle farmers. Farmers say the problem turned serious at the beginning of March this year.

Yese Basigaraho, 80, a resident of Bubaale in Bujumbura Division, Hoima Municipality, whose kraal is located in Kyakasekuro village in Bugambe Sub-County, says that he lost 33 Frisian cows to the thieves on the night of July 2nd 2018. He says the theft has left him helpless and unable to look after his family since he has been depending on his cows for survival.

Bernadette Plan, the Councilor for Kohoora Division and the Hoima Secretary for Finance is among the farmers who are shedding tears after the thugs raided her kraal in Bujwahya cell in Hoima Municipality on May 25-2018 and took off with 20 Frisian cows. Bernadette Plan, who lost 20 cows to thugs noted that for the last five months, farmers have been reporting animal theft to Police, but there is no effort put in place to arrest the situation.

She blamed police and other security agencies for not doing enough despite the continued theft of animals in the district that has left many with empty kraals. "We are appealing to government to intervene into this problem; police and other security agencies are aware, but the robberies have continued. We have nowhere to go for help,” Plan said.

Fred Mugasa, a businessman in Hoima town also lost 16 cows after thieves invaded his kraals located in Kayera village in Buseruka Sub-County. He says that since then he has never recovered his cows.
He has now sold off all the remaining animals over fears that they could as well be stolen. He added that security in Hoima have not taken the issues seriously and challenged police and other security agencies to tighten the grip on cattle thieves in the area.

Ali Babi, the President for Hoima Municipal Development Forum, whose family also lost over 20 cows to thieves, alleges that the increasing theft of cows is a clandestine move by highly connected people in government to turn the people of Banyoro poorer.

Baibi said some of the cattle thieves who have been arrested have been released from police custody under unclear circumstances and called farmers to rise up and petition the President over the matter.
Steven Kabagambe, the chairman of Aberwanaho Farmers Association from Kyarushesha parish in Kyangwali says that cattle thieves are known, but even when they report them to police, no action is taken to arrest them.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson says police have launched investigations into the rampant theft of the animals to ensure that the suspects are arrested and prosecuted.
He denied claims that the increasing theft of animals is a result of laxity in security.

COMMENT:
Since when did the Banyoro become cattle keepers!!!! Ask the people of Teso, Lango and Acholi as to what happened to their cattle stocks. Just revert back to your traditional cassava and tobacco growing and the "thugs" will not target you.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM.