The Democratic Party (DP) has protested President Yoweri Museveni’s extension of the implementation of Executive Order No.3 by another 20 days.

DP said on Tuesday that the escalating stand-off between the people of Acholi sub-region and the Balaalo herdsmen in the area is a serious matter which could end in blood shed, if not addressed immediately.

Addressing journalists at the party head offices in Kampala, Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) president, Ismail Kiirya said; “As Democratic Party, we are wondering what is the interest of the President on these herdsmen?”

Kiirya added: “If we continue handling this issue sluggishly in the way it is being taken, it may result into a tribal issue, hence bloodshed.”

Kiirya said that the Acholi people are no longer safe with the Balaalo in their area reasoning that a number of the locals are being manipulated by several people to sell their land to the herdsmen cheaply.

“Let government buy for them land if it has interest in them, if not, lead them to go back to where they came from. We are very sure that our government knows where exactly these people came from. When the Acholi people wanted to send them away, the President intervened by his executive order No 3. What is happening?’ Kiirya wondered.

In the executive order No.3 issued on May 19, President Museveni banned all Balaalo from northern Uganda after rebuking them for land grabbing and indiscipline. However, on July 2, the President deferred the enforcement of the expulsion neutralizing the earlier directive in the order issued on May 19.

On Sunday, state minister for northern Uganda Grace Freedom Kwiyocwiny in a press conference told journalists that she received written communication from the president, declaring the extension of executive order No.3 until October 20.

The minister explained that the President extended the implementation of the order to give him time to study reports he received about the herdsmen in the area.

Kwiyocwiny said: “the President has extended the deadline to allow him time to read the new reports he has received since the last extension which expired on September 30.

With more 20 days added to the Balaalo to continue their stay, this means they are to be in the area until November 8.

Some Members of Parliament from northern Uganda, namely Chua West MP in Kitgum district and Kilak South MP in Amuru district, Philip Polly Okin Ojara and Gilbert Olanya respectively have also expressed disappointment at the extension.

At a press conference held in Gulu on Friday, Okin said; “we consider this as an abuse because an executive order is a law by itself. When it has been issued, the report should go on the way it has been implemented, but it looks like there is ping-pong going on. I don’t know what would be the purpose of the executive order. Was it even worthwhile to be issued?”

“It is not that we hate people, but we are talking about the land rights of indigenous people and the land governance of the indigenous people,” Okin added.